TREASURY

Breast Cancer

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will authorise the recording of inflammatory breast cancer on death certificates where appropriate instead of a general description of advanced breast cancer.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 21 June 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question the recording of inflammatory breast cancer on death certificates where appropriate instead of a general description of advanced breast cancer. (78986)
	Guidance for doctors on completion of the medical certificate of cause of death is available at www.gro.gov.uk/medcert/. This guidance follows that set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It does not dictate or constrain the terminology used by doctors.
	All breast cancer deaths are coded to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C50, which only identifies the site of the tumour. Neither of the terms 'advanced' or 'inflammatory' would change the ICD coding of the cause of death.
	Although WHO are currently reviewing the ICD, the change proposed in the question would be a fundamental change in the axes used for classification and more crucially, would have no impact on the way that breast cancer deaths were coded and hence reported.

Causes of Death

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged 16 to 24 years died as a result of (i) road traffic accidents, (ii) suicide, (iii) sexually transmitted diseases, (iv) drug misuse, (v) alcohol misuse and (vi) murder/manslaughter during each year since 1990.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 22 June 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) males and (b) females aged 16 to 24 years died as a result of (i) road traffic accidents, (ii) suicide, (iii) sexually transmitted diseases, (iv) drug misuse, (v) alcohol misuse and (vi) murder/manslaughter during each year since 1990. I am replying in her absence. (79500)
	ONS routinely publishes numbers of deaths for causes which may be sexually transmitted, such as HIV or Hepatitis B infection. Information is not however normally available from the death certificate on the actual method of transmission for deaths from these causes and so figures for sexually transmitted diseases cannot be provided.
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2004. Figures for deaths in males and females aged 16 to 24 years for land transport accidents, suicide or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent, alcohol-related causes, and assault are shown in the table below for each year from 1990 to 2004. Figures for drug misuse are only available from 1993 onwards.
	
		
			  Number of deaths for males and females aged 16 to 24 by selected causes, England and Wales, 1990-2004( 1) 
			   Land transport accidents( 2)  Suicide or injury /poisoning of undetermined intent( 3)  Drug misuse( 4)  Alcohol-related( 5)  Assault( 6) 
			  Male  
			 1990 1,096 615 — 14 82 
			 1991 973 563 — 9 77 
			 1992 814 566 — 12 76 
			 1993 617 549 136 14 93 
			 1994 609 522 204 11 85 
			 1995 589 477 222 12 98 
			 1996 608 446 239 12 96 
			 1997 614 497 260 19 83 
			 1998 497 454 230 19 85 
			 1999 501 433 251 15 100 
			 2000 526 386 208 18 124 
			 2001 561 375 234 26 112 
			 2002 557 342 234 9 98 
			 2003 595 366 141 15 100 
			 2004 546 316 136 12 128 
			   
			  Female  
			 1990 221 117 — 5 32 
			 1991 240 134 — 5 46 
			 1992 207 118 — 3 40 
			 1993 153 115 29 10 46 
			 1994 174 94 38 1 48 
			 1995 148 112 35 1 30 
			 1996 139 114 46 4 32 
			 1997 143 105 43 3 28 
			 1998 139 122 61 3 40 
			 1999 140 108 45 4 27 
			 2000 115 109 60 5 41 
			 2001 124 90 58 3 40 
			 2002 133 91 38 3 31 
			 2003 121 91 41 5 43 
			 2004 131 103 44 4 35 
			 (1 )Data are for registrations of death in each calendar year from 1990 to 1992 and for occurrences of death in each calendar year from 1993onwards. (2) The cause of death for land transport accidents was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E800-E829for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes V01-V89. (3) The cause of death for suicide (intentional self-harm) or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent was defined using ICD-9 codes E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, ICD-10 codes X60-X84 and YJO-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. (4) The cause of death for drug misuse was defined using ICD-9 codes 292, 304, 305.2-305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5 for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004JCD-10 codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14, where the underlying cause was drug-related poisoning and a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was mentioned on the death record. (5) Alcohol-related deaths were defined using ICD-9 codes 291, 303, 305.0,425.5, 571 and E860 for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, ICD-10 codes F10, 142.6, K70, K73, K74 and X45. (6) The cause of death for assault was defined using ICD-9 codes E960-E969 and E988.8for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, ICD-10 codes X85-Y09 and Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending.

Causes of Death

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children aged between 11 and 18 years died as a result of  (a) road traffic accidents,  (b) suicide,  (c) sexually transmitted diseases,  (d) drug misuse,  (e) alcohol misuse and  (f) murder or manslaughter in each year since 1990.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 22 June 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) males and (b) females aged 11 to 18 years died as a result of (i) road traffic accidents, (ii) suicide, (iii) sexually transmitted diseases, (iv) drug misuse, (v) alcohol misuse and (vi) murder/manslaughter during each year since 1990. I am replying in her absence. (79579)
	ONS routinely publishes numbers of deaths for causes which may be sexually transmitted, such as HIV or Hepatitis B infection. Information is not however normally available from the death certificate on the actual method of transmission for deaths from these causes and so figures for sexually transmitted diseases cannot be provided.
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2004. Figures for deaths in males and females aged 11 to 18 years for land transport accidents, suicide only, suicide or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent, alcohol-related causes, and assault are shown in the table below for each year from 1990 to 2004. Figures for drug misuse are only available from 1993 onwards.
	It is assumed that most deaths from injury/poisoning of undetermined intent at ages 15 and over are cases where the harm was self-inflicted, but there was insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased deliberately intended to kill themselves. This cannot be assumed in deaths at ages under 15 and therefore deaths from injury/poisoning of undetermined intent are not included when examining suicide (intentional self-harm) in children. The table below shows the number of suicides in children aged 11 to 14, and the number of suicide or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent deaths in those aged 15 to 18.
	
		
			  Number of deaths in males and females aged 11 to 18 by selected cause, England and Wales, 1990-2004( 1) 
			   Land transport accidents( 2)  Suicide( 3 ) (aged11-14)  Suicide or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent( 4)  (aged 15-18)  Drug misuse( 5)  Alcohol-related( 6)  Assault( 7) 
			  Male   
			 1990 481 2 98 — 3 31 
			 1991 414 2 93 — 1 28 
			 1992 352 1 74 — 2 19 
			 1993 234 5 76 31 3 29 
			 1994 274 5 75 26 1 21 
			 1995 279 1 74 35 1 36 
			 1996 310 3 87 40 2 38 
			 1997 275 2 79 44 8 34 
			 1998 209 1 86 35 3 30 
			 1999 226 2 87 45 2 43 
			 2000 253 2 80 29 2 39 
			 2001 247 3 82 24 5 34 
			 2002 231 3 69 30 2 43 
			 2003 244 0 63 20 3 37 
			 2004 242 3 63 18 1 38 
			
			  Female   
			 1990 149 0 25 — 3 11 
			 1991 139 1 31 — 0 19 
			 1992 131 0 19 — 1 18 
			 1993 111 2 25 5 1 18 
			 1994 111 2 13 10 0 11 
			 1995 77 4 30 11 0 14 
			 1996 103 0 32 9 2 17 
			 1997 109 3 24 15 0 12 
			 1998 92 2 28 14 1 20 
			 1999 96 0 34 8 1 11 
			 2000 68 1 37 15 1 20 
			 2001 78 2 17 18 1 15 
			 2002 72 2 29 11 0 17 
			 2003 72 3 20 5 1 17 
			 2004 87 2 29 7 1 12 
			 (1) Data are for registrations of death in each calendar year from1990 to 1992 and for occurrences of death in each calendar year from 1993 onwards. (2) The cause of death for land transport accidents was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E800-E829for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes VQ1-V89. (3) The cause of death for suicide (intentional self-harm) was defined using the ICD-9 codes E950-E959 for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, ICD-10 codes X60-X84. (4) The cause of death for suicide (intentional self-harm) or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent was defined using ICD-9 codes E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, ICD-10 codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. (5) The cause of death for drug misuse was defined using ICD-9 codes 292, 304, 305.2-305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004,ICD-10 codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14, where the underlying cause was drug-related poisoning and a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was mentioned on the death record. (6) Alcohol-related deaths were defined using ICD-9 codes 291, 303, 305.0,425.5, 571 and E860for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, ICD-10 codes F10, 142.6, K70, K73, K74 and X45. (7) The cause of death for assault was defined using ICD-9 codes E960-E969 and E988.8for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, ICD-10 codes X85-Y09 and Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending.

Flight Costs

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) aircraft flights and  (b) helicopter flights have been made by him on official business since 5 May; what was the (i) cost and (ii) purpose of each flight; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Prime Minister releases details of ministerial travel annually via a written statement to the House. It is expected that information relating to the 2006-07 financial year will be released shortly before the 2007 summer recess.

Minimum Wage (Lewisham, Deptford)

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged (a) 22 years and over,  (b) 18 to 21 years and  (c) under 18 years are receiving the minimum wage in (i) Lewisham, Deptford constituency and (ii) Lewisham borough.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	Earnings data at the parliamentary constituency level are not available.
	However, earnings data are available by Government office region. Although it is not possible to estimate the number of jobs paid exactly at the National Minimum Wage, the DTI estimates that in April 2005 there were 28,000 jobs held by employees aged 16 or over in the London region paid a wage within a 5p range of the National Minimum Wage. This estimate is based on data from the Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2005.

NHS Deficits

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has given to the Department of Health on the financial recovery of NHS deficits.

Stephen Timms: The Treasury agrees budgets with Departments and it is the responsibility of Departments to ensure they remain within these budgets.

NHS Deficits

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on deficits in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ministers and officials in the Department of Health as part of the process of policy analysis, development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

NHS Funding

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his spending plans are for the NHS in the next two years; and what he expects growth in spending on the NHS to be in each year to 2009-10.

Stephen Timms: As published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2006, the spending plans for the NHS are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 Resources 79,997 87,062 
			 Capital 5,227 6,199 
		
	
	As the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced on 19 July 2005, a second Comprehensive Spending Review, reporting in 2007, will set departmental allocations for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Pension Contributions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate  (a) the number of people who received and  (b) the amount of income tax relief granted on pension contributions given to (i) basic rate taxpayers and (ii) higher rate taxpayers in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: Estimates of the annual cost of tax relief on private pensions are available on Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/7_9_sep05.pdf.
	We estimate that around 55 per cent. of tax relief on pension contributions is received by around 2.5 million higher rate taxpayers. But it is not possible to give a time series for this split by taxpayer band.

Poverty Reduction

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to reduce poverty in Coventry, South since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The Treasury has, in partnership with other Government Departments, tackled poverty and promoted economic opportunity through:
	Promoting macroeconomic stability
	Supporting work for those who can and ensuring that work pays, through the new deals, a national minimum wage and the working tax credit
	Providing financial support for groups at particular risk of poverty, such as child benefit and the child tax for families, and the pension credit for pensioners.
	Across the UK, these measures have helped lift more than a million people out of poverty since 1997. Tax credits are benefiting more than 420,000 families in the West Midlands region, and in Coventry, South claimant unemployment has fallen by over 30 per cent., youth unemployment has fallen by 63 per cent. and long-term unemployment has fallen by 82 per cent.

Science City Initiative

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider how the city of Durham's science expertise can be better recognised within the Science City Initiative.

John Healey: In the 2004 pre-Budget report and in Budget 2005, the Government supported plans by the regional development agencies (RDAs) to develop six "science cities" in Manchester, Newcastle, York, Birmingham, Nottingham and Bristol. It is for RDAs to take the lead role in identifying science cities and detailed implementation plans, in line with their wider strategies for regional economic development, science and innovation.

Smuggled Illegal Meat

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value of smuggled illegal meat seized by UK enforcement officials was in  (a) the UK and  (b) Scotland in each of the past five years.

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs record seizures of illegal meat by the numbers and overall weight rather than by value. Information on the numbers and overall weight of illegal meat seizures is as follows:
	
		
			   Great Britain  Scotland 
			   Number of seizures  Weight in kilos  Number of seizures  Weight in kilos 
			 2003-04 6,473 69,927 658 1,929 
			 2004-05 10,792 77,087 778 2,1 86 
		
	
	Information on the number of seizures made prior to April 2003 can be found in DEFRA's Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products last published in July 2005. Seizure statistics for 2005-06 will be included in the next DEFRA Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products due to be published next month.

Stakeholder Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average employee stakeholder pension contribution was in each year since its introduction.

Edward Balls: Estimates of the average employee stakeholder pension contribution by tax year since the introduction of stakeholder pensions in 2001 are published in Table 7.10, "Personal and Stakeholder Pensions: Number of individuals contributing and average contribution by status and earned income", on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/menu-by-year.htm.

Suicide

James Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many farmers committed suicide in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 June 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many farmers committed suicide in each of the last 10 years. (79499)
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2004. Figures for deaths of farm workers and farm owners from suicide (intentional self-harm) or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent are shown in the table below for each year from 1995 to 2004.
	
		
			  Number of deaths from intentional self-harm( 1)  or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent( 2)  in farm workers and farm owners( 3) , aged 20-74, England & Wales, 1995-2004( 4) 
			   Number of deaths 
			 1995 54 
			 1996 64 
			 1997 59 
			 1998 72 
			 1999 70 
			 2000 58 
			 2001 55 
			 2002 45 
			 2003 55 
			 2004 42 
			 (1) The cause of death for intentional self-harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959for the years 1995 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84. (2) The cause of death for injury/poisoning of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E980-E989 excluding E988.8for 1995 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. (3) The occupation coded at death registration is the last gainful occupation of the deceased, as supplied by the informant who registers the death. Occupation is not coded by ONS for deaths of persons aged over 74. ONS Standard Occupational Classification 1990 (SOC90) codes 900, 901 and 160 were selected for data from 1995 to 2000, and ONS Standard Occupational Classification 2000 (SOC2000) codes 8223, 9111, 1211 and 5111 were selected for data from 2001 to 2004. (4) Data are for occurrences of death in each calendar year.

Suicide

James Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of suicide was among people in  (a) areas with a population below 10,000 inhabitants and  (b) England in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 22 June 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rate of suicide was among people in (a) areas with a population below 10,000 inhabitants and (b) England in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in her absence. (79498)
	ONS does not produce suicide rates for areas smaller than local authorities as meaningful figures cannot be calculated for very small populations. The latest available suicide rates for local authorities in England and Wales are for the period 2000-2003 and these can be found on the National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=13618
	The most recent year for which figures are available for England is 2004. The table below shows rates for deaths with a verdict of suicide or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent in England for the years 1995 to 2004.
	
		
			  Death rates( 1)  from suicide or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent( 2) , England, 1995 to 2004( 3) 
			   Rate 
			 1995 9.2 
			 1996 9.1 
			 1997 9.3 
			 1998 9.6 
			 1999 9.5 
			 2000 9.0 
			 2001 8.5 
			 2002 8.4 
			 2003 8.2 
			 2004 8.1 
			 (1) Rates per 100,000 population standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) The cause of death for suicide (intentional self-harm) and injury/poisoning of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8 for the years 1995 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. (3) Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Teenage Pregnancies

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many girls under the age of 16 years  (a) became pregnant and  (b) gave birth in (i) Bury St. Edmunds constituency and (ii) Suffolk county council area in each of the last 10 years, broken down by age.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 21 June 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many girls under the age of 16 years  (a) became pregnant and  (b) gave birth in (i) Bury St. Edmunds constituency and (ii) Suffolk county council area in each of the last 10 years, broken down by age. (79394)
	Numbers of conceptions in Suffolk County for the years 1995-2004 (the most recent year for which figures are available), and numbers of maternities in Suffolk County for the years 1995-2005 are shown in the table. Figures for 2004 are provisional.
	Information on conceptions is routinely published for local authorities and strategic health authorities. Figures cannot be provided by parliamentary constituency because of the risk of disclosing individual's information, due to small differences between the parliamentary constituency and local authority boundaries.
	ONS does not publish figures by single year of age below the age of 16 by either local or health authority because of the risk of disclosing individual's information.
	Maternity counts are for girls aged under 16 in each year at which either one or more live birth or stillbirth occurred.
	Birth figures cannot be provided for Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency for the same reason as provided for conceptions.
	
		
			  Number of conceptions and maternities to girls aged under 16, Suffolk 1995-2005 
			   Conceptions  Maternities 
			 1995 63 14 
			 1996 82 12 
			 1997 89 12 
			 1998 71 12 
			 1999 58 14 
			 2000 62 5 
			 2001 73 12 
			 2002 75 13 
			 2003 93 19 
			 2004(1) 73 12 
			 2005(2) — 9 
			 (1) Conceptions for 2004 are provisional. (2) Conceptions data are not yet available for 2005.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) petrol cars and  (b) diesel cars there were in each vehicle excise duty band for private vehicles in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	The two tables indicate the number of petrol and diesel cars registered in each vehicle excise duty (VED) band for the years 2002 to 2005.
	Table 1 outlines the number of cars whose keepers pay graduated VED. Graduated VED was brought into effect in March 2001. Cars attract a rate of VED dependant upon their CO2 emissions per kilometre driven. There have been a number of changes to the banding system since it was introduced. These are outlined in table 1.
	Combined with the new vehicle CO2 labelling scheme and company car tax, graduated VED raises awareness of CO2 and provides incentives for consumers to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles.
	Table 2 outlines the number of cars whose keepers pay VED by the old system. Cars that were purchased before March 2001 attract VED according to their engine size. A car with an engine capacity above 1549cc pays the higher rate. Those with engines under 1550cc pay the lower rate.
	
		
			  Table 1: GRAD VED registered cars 
			  VED Band  Emissions (gCO 2 /km)  Total petrol cars  Total diesel cars 
			  2002
			 AA <121 6,508 52,584 
			 A 121-150 728,149 419,201 
			 B 151-165 921,579 206,523 
			 C 166-185 767,145 121,323 
			 D >185 1,230,804 179,656 
			 
			  2003
			 AAA <101 147 204 
			 AA 101 to 120 20,337 107,640 
			 A 121 to 150 1,221,308 651,777 
			 B 151 to 165 1,295,818 346,905 
			 C 166 to 185 1,120,724 205,371 
			 D >185 1,748,129 319,788 
			 
			  2004
			 AAA <101 154 213 
			 AA 101 to 120 39,891 162,611 
			 A 121 to 150 1,691,220 933,605 
			 B 151 to 165 1,657,889 526,889 
			 C 166 to 185 1 ,466,738 283,189 
			 D >185 2,183,370 487,779 
			 
			  2005
			 A <101 163 211 
			 B 101 to 120 59,130 211,168 
			 C 121 to 150 2,117,940 1,205,039 
			 D 151 to 165 1,992,343 760,541 
			 E 166 to 185 1 ,785,602 355,671 
			 F >185 2,543,108 673,547 
		
	
	
		
			  Table2: pre GRAD VED registered cars 
			  VED Band (by engine capacity)  Total petrol cars  Total diesel cars 
			  2002   
			 <1550cc 8,220,734 176,990 
			 >=1550cc 9,964,559 2,756,098 
			
			  2003   
			 <1550cc 7,314,428 166,322 
			 >=1550cc 9,084,579 2,601,601 
			
			  2004   
			 <1550cc 6,576,637 155,029 
			 <=1550cc 8,360,707 2,461,268 
			
			  2005   
			 <1550cc 5,819,412 138,479 
			 <=1550cc 7,558,301 2,251,445

Vehicle Excise Duty

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why there are different levels of vehicle excise duty for diesel cars and petrol cars; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: As announced in Budget 2000, from 1 March 2001 a graduated VED system for new cars was introduced. Under this system, all new cars first registered from that date have the rate of VED payable determined according to their rate of carbon dioxide emissions.
	Within each band, there is a £10 discount for cars using cleaner fuels and technology, including those powered by road fuel gas, bi-fuel and dual fuel, and cars using hybrid technology. Within each band, there is also a supplement for diesel cars to reflect their higher emissions of particulates and other pollutants which damage local air quality.

TRANSPORT

Bus Drivers' Working Hours

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to bring into force the European Union legislation on applying the 11-hour rule to bus drivers' shifts;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on recent changes to the legal and regulatory framework governing bus drivers' working hours.

Stephen Ladyman: There are two sets of rules governing drivers' hours in the UK. Many bus drivers operate under domestic drivers' hours rules rather than the EU drivers' hours rules. This is because buses on routes less than 50 kilometres are specifically exempted from the EU Regulations.
	A new EU Regulation on drivers' hours has recently been adopted by the EU institutions—it was published in the Official Journal in April 2006 and will, for the most part, come into force in April 2007. We expect to consult later this year on any necessary consequential amendments to existing UK legislation.
	Although, during negotiation of the new EU Regulation, consideration was given to extending the scope to include buses on routes less than 50 kilometres, this change was not made.
	We will keep under review the need to bring the domestic rules into line with the EU rules, but will not be in a position to consult on any such changes before the bulk of the new EU Regulation comes into force next year.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the budget of £154 million allocated to Crossrail in 2001 was spent.

Derek Twigg: Of the £154 million allocated in 2001, Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRL) had spent £140 million by the end of May 2006. This supported development of the scheme set out in the Hybrid Bill. The most substantial costs have been incurred employing staff, and carrying out transport, engineering and environmental studies.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on the Crossrail project since its inception.

Derek Twigg: Since 2001, Cross London Rail Links Ltd.—the company responsible for Crossrail design—has spent a total of £161 million on the Crossrail project.

Highways Agency

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what salaries are paid to the board of directors of the Highways Agency.

Stephen Ladyman: The salary information for Highways Agency board directors for the financial year 2004-05 is published in the Highways Agency's annual report and accounts, a copy of which is available from the House Libraries and at: http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/documents/annl_rept 2004 05.pdf.

Marine Environment High Risk Areas

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what criteria the Marine Environment High Risk Areas were determined.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 1519-21W given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George).

Nuclear Waste Transportation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to consult Colchester residents about the transportation by rail through the town of nuclear waste from Sizewell Power Station; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport has recently taken over responsibility for making regulations covering the transport of radioactive materials by rail from the Health and Safety Executive. In November 2004 the Department undertook a consultation on the proposals for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2005, SI 2005:1732. These regulations include provisions for the control of the carriage of radioactive materials by rail.
	The consultation document was sent out to over 800 addresses across the U.K. and it was published on the Department's website. There were three responses from addresses in Colchester but none of these were concerned with the transport of radioactive materials.

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Private Members' Bills were drafted by his Department in each Session since 1997; and which subsequently received Royal Assent.

Gillian Merron: Members will consider a range of possible subjects before introducing their Private Members' Bills.
	Government draftsmen do draft some Bills in advance which are available as one of the options for Members to consider before they make their selection.
	However, Members may make subsequent amendments or revisions to a Government drafted Bill, or use it as the basis for a Private Member's Bill in the future.
	The information requested is therefore not collected.

Rail and Cycle Travel Integration

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to improve integration of rail and cycle travel.

Derek Twigg: Each train operating company (TOC) is responsible for both their policy on the carriage of bikes on trains and the provision of cycle parking at stations.
	The Government have inherited the Cycling Policy document produced in 2004 from the Strategic Rail Authority. This encourages all TOCs to carry folding bikes at all times, to carry non folding bikes wherever possible, while recognising that in peak periods there may be circumstances where it is in the best interests of the majority of passengers not to do so, and to supply cycle parking at most rail stations. The policy recommends to TOCs that they provide sufficient cycle parking at stations so that 95 per cent. of all rail journeys start from a station with adequate cycle parking by 2009. To support this policy the DfT recently funded an additional 2,900 cycle parking spaces at stations where demand exceeded capacity.
	As part of our ongoing commitment to bike and rail journeys I am discussing with our advisory body on cycling, Cycling England, how we might further encourage such journeys.

Rural Transport Services

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rural rail  (a) services and  (b) stations have ceased to operate in each year since 1997, broken down by location.

Derek Twigg: No rural rail services have ceased to operate since 1997, only two small stretches of passenger network at Maindee Loop (near Newport) in 2005 and Sheepcote Lane Curve in 2004 (near Clapham Junction) have closed.
	Four stations have ceased to operate since 1997 and 14 stations have been replaced by either light rail, tram, or a station in a new location.
	The four stations which have ceased to operate are:
	Etruria in 2005;
	Sinfin North, Sinfin Central and Pendleton stations in 1998.

Temporary Parking Exemption Blue Badges

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce temporary parking exemption blue badges for those suffering short-term impairment for less than 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Following a review of the blue badge scheme, the Department for Transport has accepted a recommendation made by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), the Department's statutory advisers on the transport needs of disabled people, that the scheme should be extended to people with temporary mobility impairments which severely affect their walking ability and are likely to do so for at least 12 months. This reflected the consensus of opinion during the review and there are therefore no plans to extend the eligibility criteria to people with impairments lasting less than 12 months at the present time.

Transport Schemes (Cost-Benefit Ratios)

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which major transport schemes agreed over the last two years in London have cost-benefit ratios below 2.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 19 June 2006
	In the past two years the Department has approved two London projects that have a benefit-cost ratio below 2: the fit out of the Thameslink Midland Road box; and the King's Cross LUL Northern ticket hall. Both projects fall within the medium value for money category (benefit-cost ratios in the range to 1.5 to 2).
	The Department does not hold comprehensive benefit-cost information on projects approved by Transport for London.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Rural Disadvantage

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the findings of the Commission for Rural Communities' report on rural disadvantage.

Barry Gardiner: I welcome the report and its emphasis on meeting the needs of disadvantaged people living in rural areas.
	This is the first major output from the Commission for Rural Communities, demonstrating early action on its mandate to act as a watchdog and advocate for rural people and communities, especially those suffering disadvantage.

Household Waste

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to reduce household waste.

Ben Bradshaw: Historically, year-on-year, the increase of municipal waste has been reduced to 1.5 per cent. and we have also achieved an overall reduction of waste going to landfill of 10 per cent. since 2000.
	The review of the waste strategy has, as one of its prime objectives, to reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place.

Radioactive Waste Disposal

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues about the environmental impact of radioactive waste disposal.

Ian Pearson: The independent Committee of Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) are currently considering the long-term management options for higher level radioactive wastes. As part of their assessments—which have been open and transparent, and in the public domain—they have considered the environmental impacts of the options. The Government look forward to receiving their final report shortly.

Regional Food Specialities

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote local food networks and regional food specialities.

Barry Gardiner: We are helping to facilitate local sourcing by providing funding to address issues such as distribution, marketing and the encouragement of new outlets and by working with other bodies to highlight and spread best practice. Food from Britain (FFB) takes the lead in the delivery of a national programme of activity to support the quality regional food sector in England which includes many local food producers.

Wild Flowers

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action has been taken since May 2005 to protect wild flower meadows and to encourage the planting of wild flowers.

Barry Gardiner: Earlier this week we published the 2005 highlight report on progress on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It shows that 22 per cent. of priority habitats and 11 per cent. of priority species are increasing, and that more priority species are showing improved trends, including the Deptford pink.

Energy White Paper

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to paragraph 3.41 of the 2003 Energy White Paper, what steps he plans to take to extend the energy efficiency commitment beyond the domestic sector.

Ian Pearson: DEFRA commissioned studies on the possible extension of the domestic energy efficiency commitment (EEC) to those businesses that do not pay the climate change levy.
	The Government concluded that the inclusion of small business within the domestic EEC is not practicable at this point. Options continue to be considered, but in the immediate period support for energy efficiency improvement in this sector will continue via other programmes, notably those of the Carbon Trust, as outlined in "Energy Efficiency: The Government's Plan for Action", published in April 2004.
	The Government will introduce further measures to encourage and assist Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to take up energy saving opportunities. DEFRA has commissioned work to examine different policy options. This work will draw on the experience of the EEC mechanism in the household sector in informing our views of the best way forward.

Milk Imports

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much milk was imported in the last period for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: Figures from HM Revenue and Customs show that in 2005, just over 48,000 tonnes of liquid milk were imported into the UK. This represents about 0.4 per cent. of UK milk production.

Sakhalin II Project

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which rivers were crossed with  (a) gas and  (b) oil pipelines (i) during and (ii) outside the designated winter period as part of the Sakhalin II project.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 21 June 2006
	The designated winter period for crossing rivers as part of the Sakhalin II project is 1 December to 30 April.
	Dates on which the rivers were crossed with oil and gas pipelines are available at the Sakhalin Energy website at:
	http://www.sakhalinenergy.com/en/project. asp?p=rc_list

Sakhalin II Project

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which rivers were crossed with  (a) gas and  (b) oil pipelines as part of the Sakhalin II project;
	(2)  which rivers were crossed with  (a) gas and  (b) oil pipelines on non-consecutive construction days as part of the Sakhalin II project;
	(3)  what the average time period is between the installation of gas or oil pipelines across each river as part of the Sakhalin II project.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 21 June 2006
	This information is available on the Sakhalin Energy website at:
	http://www.sakharinenergy.com/en/project. asp?p=rc_list

Sakhalin II Project

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information he has gathered on the effect of the Sakhalin II project on salmon spawning habitat; and what action he is taking to ensure that there is no loss of such habitat as a result of the project.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 21 June 2006
	The information gathered on the effect of the Sakhalin II project on salmon spawning habitats includes:
	Official and ministerial meetings with Shell;
	Information included in Sakhalin Energy's River Crossing Strategy;
	Monitoring information published by Sakhalin Energy on its website;
	Information gathered during site visits carried out by Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), other potential lenders and their independent consultants.
	Sakhalin Energy has committed itself to ensuring no net loss of habitat.
	DEFRA will be monitoring performance through its close working relationships with relevant departments such as ECGD, who, together with other agencies such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, have commissioned independent monitoring of the project.

Sakhalin II Project

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the potential impact of an oil spill on the feeding grounds of the Western Pacific Grey Whale in the event of a major incident at the Sakhalin II project; and what assessment has been made of the potential impact of such a spill on those feeding grounds in  (a) summer conditions and  (b) winter ice conditions.

Ian Pearson: Information on the potential impact of oil spills on the Western Gray Whales' feeding grounds has been included in a number of assessments, including the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company's (SEIC's) Environmental Impact Assessment (2003) and Addenda (2005), and its Comparative Environmental Assessment (2004). A number of reports on this subject have also been produced for meetings of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Independent Scientific Review and successor bodies, including a report from the Independent Interim Science Group (IISG), which made a number of specific recommendations to SEIC.
	SEIC is developing oil spill response plans that will include measures intended to address the potential impact of a spill on the feeding grounds of the Western Gray Whale in different conditions. These will be reviewed by both Russian authorities and an independent international oil spill response consultancy. The former will address compliance with appropriate elements of Russian Law, whilst the latter will assess the adequacy of plans against a number of recognised and robust international standards.

Sakhalin II Project

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of  (a) the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company's oil spill plan response methods and  (b) the potential impact of an oil spill on biodiversity in the Sakhalin island area.

Ian Pearson: Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC) is developing oil spill response plans, which must be approved by the Russian authorities before oil production can start. These plans will also be reviewed against Russian and international standards by consultants acting for the potential lenders. We will review the conclusions of this work.
	We have kept in close touch with SEIC on the issue of oil spills. In recent meetings with SEIC/Shell we have stressed the importance of having adequate measures in place to address the risks, and of SEIC's implementing the Independent Interim Science Group's recommendations.

WALES

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of his staff are  (a) under and  (b) over 55 years of age.

Peter Hain: At 31 December 2005 Wales Office staff were split as follows:
	 (a) 45 staff (76.3 per cent.) under 55 years of age and
	 (b) 14 staff (23.7 per cent.) over the age of 55.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited into his Department in each of the last three years.

Peter Hain: Between April 2004 and March 2005, there were 14 people over the age of 55 working for the Wales Office. This represented a quarter of the staff at the time.
	A further member of staff over the age of 55 was recruited in 2005-06, representing 10 per cent. of the total staff recruited during that period.
	Information relating to 2003-04 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Websites

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many websites there are within his responsibilities; and what the total cost of maintaining such websites was in the last year for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office has responsibility for www.walesoffice.gov.uk and its parallel Welsh language site www.swyddfa.cymru.gov.uk.
	The cost of running both sites was £5,875 in 2005, with an additional £58.75 charged to renew the domain names.

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Private Members' Bills were drafted by his Department in each session since 1997; and which subsequently received Royal Assent.

Peter Hain: Members will consider a range of possible subjects before introducing their Private Members' Bills.
	Government draftsmen do draft some Bills in advance, which are available as one of the options for Member's to consider before they make their selection.
	However, Members may make subsequent amendments or revisions to a Government drafted Bill, or use it as the basis for a Private Member's Bill in the future.
	The information requested is therefore not collected.

Renewable Energy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps the Government are taking to increase the supply of renewable energy in Wales.

Peter Hain: With up to 24 onshore and offshore windfarms either under construction or in planning, Wales has the potential to supply a huge amount of energy from renewable sources.
	The Renewables' Obligation is the Government's main policy measure for supporting renewable energy, establishing a target of securing 10 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. Programmes such as the Micro-generation Strategy and the Wave and Tidal Energy Demonstration Scheme support these actions.
	Policies put in place by the Welsh Assembly Government complement these commitments. For example, the Assembly Government have set targets for renewable energy generation and has published Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN 8) to facilitate the development of renewable energy in the most appropriate locations.
	Wales also offers significant opportunities for harnessing the renewable energy of waves and tides and the Assembly Government are supporting two projects through the Objective 1 programme: Wavedragon and Marine Current Turbines, including the Severn Barrage.

Work and Pensions Select Committee

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been taken by his Department to implement Work and Pensions Select Committee recommendations since the 2001-02 session; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: Responsibility for the implementation of Work and Pensions Select Committee recommendations rests with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The Wales Office has no executive responsibility in this area.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Departmental Re-branding

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the total costs at current prices of re-branding  (a) the Department of the Environment as the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions,  (b) the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions as the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and  (c) the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Angela Smith: The costs for re-branding:
	 (a) the Department of the Environment as the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions was £176,690;
	 (b) the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions as the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions was £25,250;
	 (c) the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was £52,117.

Deputy Prime Minister

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants worked in the Deputy Prime Minister's private office at 10 April 2006; and what the cost of running his private office was in 2005-06.

John Prescott: I have been asked to reply.
	Staff numbers and costs for my private office in 2005-06 will be accounted for in the usual way in the Department's annual report and accounts.

Mineral Planning

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the public inquiries on decisions by mineral planning authorities to reject applications for opencast mining since the MPG3 planning guidelines were revised in 1999; and what the outcome of each inquiry was.

Yvette Cooper: Since revision of Mineral Planning Guidance note 3 (coal mining and colliery spoil disposal) in March 1999 there have been 11 local public inquiries into decisions by mineral planning authorities to reject applications for opencast coal mining. The information requested by my right hon. Friend is listed in the table.
	
		
			  Description  Local authority  Decision type  Decision by Secretary of State  Date of decision 
			 Windsor site Kirklees MBC Appeal Dismissed 20 December 1999 
			 Hoodcroft II site Derbyshire CC Appeal Dismissed 20 December 1999 
			 Dawley II Telford and Wrekin BC Appeal Dismissed 19 March 2001 
			 Orchard site Warwickshire CC Appeal Dismissed 19 March 2001 
			 Santingley Wakefield MBC Appeal Dismissed 19 March 2001 
			 Cutacre Bolton, Salford and Wigan Appeal and call-in Allowed 30 July 2001 
			 Reclamation of spoil heaps Doncaster Appeal Allowed 2 October 2001 
			 Old Quarrington Durham CC Appeal Dismissed 22 December 2003 
			 Thieveley Colliery Lancashire CC Appeal Dismissed 1 April 2004 
			 Wheatley Head Durham CC Appeal Dismissed 17 October 2005 
			 Long Moor surface mine Leicestershire Appeal Allowed 25 May 2006

Supported Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on consultants' services relating to Supporting People in the last two financial years; what amount has been allocated for these services for 2006-07; and how much of this expenditure has been for services for work on the Distributed Formula in each year.

Yvette Cooper: In 2004-05 £2.4 million was spent on consultancy services and in 2005-06 £1.1 million was spent on consultancy.

Valuation Office Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Valuation Office Agency holds  (a) dwelling house code and  (b) value significant code data for (i) 10 Downing Street, (ii) 11 Downing Street, (iii) Flats 1-3, Admiralty House, Whitehall and (iv) Dorneywood.

Phil Woolas: Yes.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will keep a separate record of the amount spent annually by his Department on alcohol for hospitality purposes.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office records its hospitality expenditure in accordance with the principles of Government accounting. It keeps no separate record of expenditure by category of provision, and there are no plans to begin keeping any such detailed record.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of his staff are  (a) under and  (b) over 55 years of age.

David Cairns: As at 31 December 2005, the Scotland Office had 48 staff under the age of 55 and six staff over that age.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited into his Department in each of the last three years.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not recruit staff directly; its officials are on loan from the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs. One member of staff in 2003, two in 2004 and one in 2005 were over 55 years of age when they joined the Office.

Disability Access

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any building in his Department falls short of disability access regulations.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office's main buildings—Dover House in London and Melville Crescent in Edinburgh—are listed buildings and cannot be altered without the consent of the relevant heritage body. Both buildings were initially assessed for compliance with the Act.
	In the light of this assessment, all reasonable and practicable efforts have been made to adapt Dover House for use by the disabled. Subsequently, an access audit was commissioned to advise on longer term improvements that were required; these have been included in a programme of works which is due to be carried out during 2006-07. Where the audit drew attention to an issue that could not be remedied by building works, a management procedure has been introduced.
	In Melville Crescent, all improvements and refurbishment works were completed, where reasonably practicable, and in accordance with Part 4 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, while also in conjunction with British standard—BS 8300:2001.

Sickness Absence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in his Department have had  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in each of the last three years.

David Cairns: All Scotland Office staff are on loan from the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs and those Departments maintain sickness absence records. A complete picture, in the form requested, is however not available.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Switchover

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the results of the digital switchover trial in Bolton; what the effect of switchover was on  (a) individuals on low incomes and  (b) the elderly; how much switchover cost per (i) household and (ii) vulnerable household; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The purpose of the trial was to test the process for supporting elderly and severely disabled consumers through switchover. The majority of people in the digital television trial thought switching over was easy and liked watching digital television.
	The trial also highlighted the importance of support from family and friends in installing and using the equipment and the need to give older and disabled people time to adapt to using new television equipment.
	The full Bolton trial report was published in May; copies are available in both Houses and at www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk. We are considering the findings from the Bolton trial and other research. This will help to inform work on the detailed design and costs of the digital switchover assistance schemes.

Digital Switchover

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Government has allocated for support to  (a) individuals on low incomes and  (b) the elderly (i) to purchase equipment and (ii) to obtain help with installation in preparation for the switch to digital television in each year up to 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The costs of the digital switchover assistance scheme are being assessed as part of work to determine the licence fee settlement for the new Charter period. This work will draw upon a variety of sources including outputs from the Bolton Digital television trial which considered the needs of the elderly and disabled groups who will be entitled to help from the assistance scheme.

Digital Switchover

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that the small slave transmitter on ordinance survey reference SX802596, at the junction with the Ashprington turn-off at Totnes Hill, will be converted from analogue to digital transmission; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: I understand that there is no record of a transmitter sited at OS reference SX802596, either for television transmission or telecommunications. However the Totnes television relay transmitter is situated at reference SX805594, which is very close to the above location.
	During switchover, which takes place in the Westcountry region in 2009, all transmitters (including the Totnes relay) will be converted for digital transmission. After switchover, UK digital terrestrial television coverage will match the current analogue coverage of 98.5 per cent.

Library Facilities

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding the Government are providing for the improvement of library facilities.

David Lammy: Government funding for public libraries is paid, un-ringfenced, as part of the Local Government Financial Settlement administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	It is for the 149 library authorities in England to decide upon the level of funding required to sustain and improve their services bearing in mind their statutory responsibility to make comprehensive and efficient provision.
	The public library statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy show that library authorities made net expenditure (excluding capital charges) of £817,216,604 in 2004-05 (the latest figure available). The comparable figure for the previous year was £781,990,546.
	Additional examples of funding for improved public libraries from within my Department's portfolio are the £120 million of National Lottery support for the People's Network, around £130 million of DCMS Private Finance Initiative Credits for library or part library projects, and the ongoing DCMS funding of £2 million per annum for the Framework for the Future Action Plan programme. I also look forward to the Big Lottery Fund's £80 million community library funding programme which will be launched later this year.
	My Department is also responsible for sponsorship of the British Library, the UK's national library. Grant in aid funding to the British Library over the 2004 Spending Review period is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  2005-06  
			 Estimated outturn 96.3 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Planned 102.2 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Planned 104.4 
			  Source: DCMS Annual Report 2006

London Olympics

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what committees have been established within the  (a) Cabinet,  (b) London Organising Committee for the Olympic games and  (c) Olympic delivery authority to examine the legacy for (i) the site of the London 2012 games and (ii) the International Olympic Committee.

Richard Caborn: The legacy of the Olympic games, including its wider economic, social, health and environmental legacy, is included in the remit of MISC 25 (the Cabinet Committee on the Olympic games) and in that of the Olympic Board (comprising the Government; the Greater London authority; the London Organising Committee for the Olympic games; and the British Olympic Association; with the Olympic delivery authority attending as observers).

Museums (Public Funding)

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public funding is available from the Government for the improvement and modernisation of museums.

David Lammy: DCMS annual funding for museums in 2005-06 was £444,828,000. This was made up of two streams: £414,828,000 was provided to national museums and £30 million to the Renaissance in the Regions programme.
	In addition, the Department provides funding to the DCMS/Wolfson Fund for Museums and Galleries and the Designated Challenge Fund. Both have two year funding rounds and between 2004-06 the DCMS provided £2 million to DCMS/Wolfson Fund and £3,799,991 to the Designated Challenge Fund. The Subject Specialist Networks received £248,000 for 2004-05.
	Museum and Gallery statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance show local authority museums, through the Local Government Financial Settlement, had a net expenditure of £177,250,000 in 2005-06.
	However, the majority of this museum funding is not ring fenced for specific improvement work. Although DCMS is encouraging museums to improve their services across the board, it is for the museum itself to decide what funding is needed to sustain ongoing services and what can be spent on special improvement and modernisation.

New Opportunities Fund

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 30 January 2006,  Official Report, column 59W, on the New Opportunities Fund, if she will update the information on the number of  (a) awards and  (b) payments made from the New Opportunities Fund for physical education and sport since 2004-05.

Richard Caborn: The table shows awards and payments made by the New Opportunities Fund for physical education and sport since 2004-05. These figures do not include awards for all activities for young people and other grants which have funded sport indirectly.
	
		
			   Awards made (£)  Payment made (£) 
			 2005-06 114,710,314 253,055,683 
			 Year to date 1,974,080 63,906,755

The Public

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Caroline Felton's remit was in carrying out her recent study of The Public arts organisation in West Bromwich on behalf of Arts Council England; and what conclusions her report came to.

David Lammy: Caroline Felton was commissioned by Arts Council England to produce a stocktake report on The Public in January 2006. She was asked to make recommendations about a range of issues relating to the organisation's current situation and its future challenges. The report's recommendations covered changes to the management team and other key personnel.

DEFENCE

Defence Establishment Closures (Support)

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on financial support for  (a) economic development,  (b) training and  (c) environmental improvements in an area in which a defence establishment has been (i) closed and (ii) mothballed; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The Ministry of Defence keeps its estate under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements, with a view to disposing of surplus assets as quickly as possible. Pending a final decision and subsequent disposal action, any redundant sites will normally be closed and/or mothballed to reduce unnecessary expenditure. The need for financial support to assist the disposal of a site is considered on a case by case basis, usually to maintain the property to an appropriate standard to meet environmental and health and safety requirements, consistent with the most likely disposal strategy. Limited opportunities may also exist for temporary commercial or military training uses while in disposal.
	Other Departments provide direct financial support for economic development regionally or to communities. However, the closure of defence establishments can often provide new opportunities for civilian re-use and development. It is therefore the usual practice of the Ministry of Defence to work closely with the local authority and other stakeholders—amongst others English Partnerships, Regional Development Agencies, and in Scotland the Scottish Executive, the Enterprise bodies and the Welsh Assembly in Wales—to consider the most appropriate future use.

Defence Establishment Closures (Support)

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much financial assistance his Department gave to the Cowal area after the closure of the US Navy base at the Holy Loch for  (a) economic development,  (b) training,  (c) environmental improvements and  (d) other purposes.

Tom Watson: Holy Loch closed over a decade ago and a substantive answer will take a little time to research from archive. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Merlin Helicopters

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the trials which will allow RAF Merlin helicopters to land on naval ships are expected to be complete.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 15 June 2006
	Trials are being carried out into the feasibility of extending the operating capability of the RN Merlin Mk1 helicopters from Carrier Vertical Striker (CVS) platforms (HM Ships Illustrious and Ark Royal). Information from these trials will also be used to assess the feasibility of operating RAF Merlin helicopters from naval platforms.
	There is no fixed completion date for these trials.

RG31

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluation his Department has made of the RG31 vehicle; and what assessment has been made of the possible advantages of this vehicle compared with the Snatch armoured Land Rover.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1528W, to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth). Compared to Snatch, the RG31's size means it cannot access areas of the urban environment that Snatch is able to.

Search and Rescue Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 7 June 2006,  Official Report, column 46WH, on MOD search and rescue services, whether the alternative military unit will be based at RNAS Culdrose; whether his statement that the squadron needs to remain at Culdrose referred to the  (a) 771,  (b) all squadrons presently based there and  (c) the future search and rescue squadron; and what his plans are for the 771 Squadron.

Adam Ingram: The statement of 7 June 2006,  Official Report, column 146WH, on MOD Search and Rescue Services, referred only to the future of the roles currently carried out by 771 Squadron RNAS Culdrose and can be further clarified as follows. The Search and Rescue role will be part of the joint MOD and Maritime and Coastguard Agency future UK helicopter Search and Rescue Capability. The use of Culdrose itself as a future Search and Rescue base will be fully assessed taking into account all relevant factors. The best means for ensuring the continuation of the separate Maritime Counter Terrorism role will be fully assessed in due course and the future basing of this role will be part of that assessment.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the percentage of people in Burma living in poverty.

Gareth Thomas: Reliable data about poverty in Burma are scarce, but Burma is one of the poorest countries in Asia, comparable to Cambodia and Laos on available measures and is almost certainly not on track to achieve any of the Millennium Development Goals. A household survey from 1997 found that 23 per cent. of people (11.2 million) had an income below subsistence level. The percentage of poor people earning less than $1 US a day is likely to be significantly higher than this. The same Government survey found that 70 per cent. of household expenditure was on food, an indicator of the vulnerability of poor people in Burma. There is widespread malnutrition, with one in three children aged 5 being moderately to severely malnourished. In 2001, 109 of every 1,000 children died before they reached the age of 5, double the East Asia and Pacific regional average. Maternal mortality is among the highest in the region. Only 40 per cent. of children complete five years of primary education.
	Social sector spending in Burma fell steadily during the 1990s and the authorities now spend less than $1 per person each year on basic health care and education combined. This is one of the lowest levels of public investment in the world. Public sector salaries are a long way below a living wage and teachers, doctors and other public servants are forced to either supplement their income through unofficial charges or undertake additional income earning activities. Most poor people rely on informal, private healthcare providers, often receiving poor quality or ineffective treatment as a result. Although education has traditionally been highly valued in Burma, its quality is being undermined by under-investment in the crumbling public education system. HIV/AIDS is a major public health risk in Burma. Burma is one of three countries in Asia with a generalised HIV/AIDS epidemic: 420,000 people are estimated to be infected with the virus and prevalence continues to rise. Prevalence in pregnant women exceeds 2 per cent. indicating that the epidemic has spread from high-risk groups into the general population.
	Many of the poorest and most vulnerable people live in the border areas and ethnic nationalities are among the poorest and most socially excluded people in Burma but there is considerable poverty throughout the country, in both rural and urban areas.

China

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the amount of aid China distributes in relation to the size of its gross domestic product; and what discussions he has held with the Chinese authorities of its joint aid programmes.

Hilary Benn: There are no Government figures available for China's official development assistance. DFID has established close contact with the Department for Aid to Foreign Countries within the Ministry of Commerce. This Department leads on China's aid programme. Along with the United Nations Development Programme, we have made it clear that DFID would be prepared to provide assistance and advice should China decide to establish a formal aid agency. We have not yet had a response from the Chinese Government. Our main discussions with China on international development issues have focused on its growing role in Africa. These discussions cover not only aid, but also trade and investment. There is a possibility that a joint UK/China aid project will be implemented in Ghana.

Disaster Risk Reduction

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of his Department's budget was spent on disaster risk reduction in each region in each of the last three financial years; what percentage is planned to be spent in each region in the next three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Much of DFID's support for disaster risk reduction (DRR) is integrated into wider development programmes so we do not have specific data detailing the percentage of DFID's budget spent on DRR.
	In my speech on humanitarian reform in December 2004, I committed DFID to giving higher priority to DRR. DFID is providing significant bilateral assistance for DRR programmes in countries susceptible to disasters. For example, we are providing over £60 million to support disaster preparedness in Orissa, India, and we are supporting the Government of Bangladesh's Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme. We have committed to allocating 10 per cent. of the value of our humanitarian response to each major natural disaster to prepare for and mitigate the impact of future disasters, where this can be done effectively. Under this policy, DFID has committed £7.5 million in the tsunami-affected region.
	DFID is also increasing funding to the international DRR system. We have provided £3 million to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and have recently agreed a £4 million programme with the World Bank on mainstreaming DRR into the Poverty Reduction Strategies of several disaster-prone countries. In 2005, we committed £15 million to support the community level DRR work of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and several international non-governmental organisations in Africa and Asia.

International Development Committee

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what International Development Committee recommendations his Department has  (a) accepted and  (b) implemented since 2001-02; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not keep a central record of all those recommendations by the International Development Committee which it has accepted or implemented and to obtain this information would incur a disproportionate cost. However, copies of DFID's responses to IDC reports are available in the Libraries of the House and in these responses, the Government make clear whether they accept the Committee's recommendations.

Kashmir

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he is taking to avoid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Kashmir as a result of withdrawal of funding to non-governmental organisations.

Hilary Benn: DFID funding for NGOs, the United Nations and the Red Cross Movement was not withdrawn, but ended after the disbursement of £54.3 million for humanitarian relief. Immediate relief needs have largely been met and the longer-term recovery and reconstruction phase, which we are supporting through our office in Islamabad, began at the end of March 2006.
	The Government of Pakistan are making contingency plans for the coming monsoon season and winter period. We have been reassured by the Government of Pakistan that they will keep transport lines open and use all civil and military means to cope with any problems. We are monitoring the situation closely.

Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what plans he has for legislation in the next Session of Parliament; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which Government Bills sponsored by his Department are still to be introduced during the current Session; and when, and into which House, each will be introduced.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons on 16 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1432W.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Aerospace

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to  (a) maintain and  (b) maximise the UK's capability within the aerospace sector.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are working in partnership with the aerospace industry on implementing the agenda set by the industry-led Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team report in 2003. This established a vision for the future success of the industry that by 2022,
	"The UK will offer a global Aerospace Industry the world's most innovative and productive location, leading to sustainable growth for all its stakeholders".
	The key areas of implementation work are technology, process excellence, skills, and environmental issues. This work is overseen by the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Leadership Council, which I chair jointly with Mike Turner, CEO of BAE Systems.
	In regard to the defence air sector, the Government's Defence Industrial Strategy published in December 2005 provided clarity to industry on our military capability requirements, and set out a requirement to work with companies to ensure a sustainable long-term industrial base.

Co-firing Activity

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if he will ensure that energy crops continue to be a mandatory component of co-firing activity from April 2009.
	(2)  if he will re-instate the co-firing cap to the 25 per cent. level that was in place prior to 1 April.

Malcolm Wicks: Co-firing is being reviewed as part of the ongoing Energy Review. All options are open for consideration at this stage and no decisions have yet been made. We anticipate that we will make an announcement on co-firing as part of the Energy Review announcement later in the summer.
	Any changes to the co-firing rules would require full statutory consultation.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of his staff are  (a) under and  (b) over 55 years of age.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Staff in the Department of Trade and Industry as of 1 January 2006:
	 (a) under 55 years: 3,107
	 (b) over 55 years: 569.

Flag Flying

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that the Union flag is flown from his Department's buildings on every day the offices are open.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Trade and Industry follows the rules and guidance on flag flying issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). These rules are approved by the Queen on advice from DCMS. There are no plans at present to change the number of days flags can be flown from Government buildings.

Funding (London)

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which organisations in each London  (a) borough and  (b) constituency are receiving funding from (i) his Department and (ii) the London Development Agency in 2006-07; and what total amount of funding is being made available in each case.

Margaret Hodge: Figures are not yet available about the organisations which will receive funding from the Department of Trade and Industry in 2006-07, broken down by London borough or constituency. According to the latest figures available, DTI spent £559 million in London in 2004-05, mainly on enterprise, economic development, and science and technology. Further details can be found in "Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2006" published by the Treasury in May 2006.
	The London Development Agency, a functional body of the Mayor of London which receives a block grant from DTI, is responsible for promoting economic development in London. The following table provides a breakdown of the LDA's expected expenditure by London borough in 2006-07. Data on the organisations receiving this funding are not available.
	
		
			  Borough  2006-07 Forecast (£ million) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 6.3 
			 Barnet 0.4 
			 Bexley 1.9 
			 Brent 15.9 
			 Bromley 0.2 
			 Camden 4.9 
			 City of London 1.1 
			 Croydon 0.9 
			 Ealing 2.7 
			 Enfield 1.2 
			 Greenwich 5.3 
			 Hackney 56.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3.1 
			 Haringey 5.6 
			 Harrow 0.6 
			 Havering 4.2 
			 Hillingdon 1.1 
			 Hounslow 1.2 
			 Islington 1.8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.4 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0.5 
			 Lambeth 2.9 
			 Lewisham 8.8 
			 Merton 0.5 
			 Newham 61.6 
			 Redbridge 0.5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0.5 
			 Southwark 5.6 
			 Sutton 0.5 
			 Tower Hamlets 61.9 
			 Waltham Forest 48.3 
			 Wandsworth 2.1 
			 Westminster 1.9 
			 Total 310.5

Gas and Electricity

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the importance of ensuring there is sufficient peak gas capability in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS) under joint-chairmanship of the DTI and Ofgem routinely assesses the security of energy supply in the UK. The sixth JESS report, published in April 2006, shows the assessment of winter supply capability against average and peak winter demand. This report can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file28800.pdf?pubpdfdload=06%2F331. It is clearly very important to national well-being that there is sufficient gas to meet daily demand.

Green Tariffs

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the take-up is of green tariffs to domestic electricity customers; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Figures from the National Consumer Council suggest that of the order of 200,000 households are currently on green electricity tariffs.

Marketing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of industry marketing standards; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The DTI has made no such assessment.

Marketing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the Chartered Institute of Marketing to discuss forthcoming legislation which will affect the marketing sector; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: If the Chartered Institute of Marketing writes to me setting out what issues in relation to what legislation they would like to discuss, I will consider the matter.

Post Office Closures

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices were closed in  (a) Nottingham, South and  (b) the East Midlands in 2005-06.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The question the hon. Member has asked relates to operational matters for which Post Office Ltd. is directly responsible.
	There have been no closures of Post Office branches in 2005-06 in Nottingham, South. There has been a net reduction of 20 branches over the year 2005-06 in the region of the East Midlands.
	Information relating to post office branches for each parliamentary constituency is placed in the Libraries of the House on an annual basis.

Promotion Boards

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what promotion boards have been held in his Department in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department of Trade and Industry no longer runs promotion boards for posts below the senior civil service. These posts are advertised on a job specific basis through our weekly vacancy bulletin.
	The selection process for promotion to the senior civil service is normally run annually. Four have been held in the last five years.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many  (a) solar hot water systems,  (b) solar photovoltaics and  (c) wind power systems were installed in the United Kingdom in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Full details of renewable energy generation for 2005 will be published in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2006 on 27 July 2006. A copy of which will be available from the Libraries of the House.
	We do not have definitive figures for solar water heating; however in the Microgeneration Strategy and Low Carbon Buildings Programme consultation document, issued by the Department in June 2005, we estimated that the total number of existing installed domestic systems in the UK at over 70,000 with about 5,000 new domestic systems installed each year.
	The latest confirmed figures that we have from DUKES 2005 show installed capacity of 8.2 MW for solar photovoltaics and 933.2 MW for wind power: 123.8 MW offshore and 809.4 MW onshore.
	According to the British Wind Energy Association the current installed capacity for wind is 1,694.56 MW: 1,480.76 MW onshore and 213.80 MW offshore.

Small Business Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the budget of the Government's Small Business Service was in each financial year since its establishment; how many staff it employs; how many offices it  (a) owns and  (b) rents; what the annual rent paid on rented properties was in each year; and to which Minister in the Department the Small Business Service reports.

Margaret Hodge: The chief executive of the Small Business Service reports, through the Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
	The information requested is detailed as follows:
	
		
			   Budget ( million )
			   Programme  Administration  Staff numbers( 1)  Offices owned( 2) and rented (on a notional basis)  Notional annual rent paid( 3)  ( million) 
			 2000-01 244 10 203 (4)3 1.04 
			 2001-02 268 13 326 (4)5 0.74 
			 2002-03 336 18 440 (4)3 1.66 
			 2003-04 378 19 427 (4)3 1.45 
			 2004-05 386 18 355 (4)2 1.35 
			 2005-06 216 13 240 (4)3 1.49 
			 (1) Staff numbers are those employed on SBS work, including agency staff, inward secondees and regional based staff. (2) The SBS does not own any properties. (3) The DTI are the legal tenants of the properties housing the SBS and the SBS shows these figures in its annual accounts on a notional charge. (4) Rented.  Source: SBS Annual Reports and accounts, with the 2005-06 figures being on a provisional basis.

Supply-Demand Balance

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has assessed the possibility of measuring supply-demand balance in millions of cubic metres per day.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department generally assesses supply and demand in terms of the energy content of gas (GWh), as this is what is important for ensuring that supply and demand are balanced. However, an analysis of the projected supplies and demand in million cubic metres per day for winters up to 2024-25 can be found in the sixth report of the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS) (http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file28800.pdf?pubpdfdload=06% F331). For information concerning the forthcoming winter, an analysis of the supply-demand balance in millions of cubic metres can be found in National Grid's Winter Outlook consultation document, available at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cache/cmsattach/15058 _8406b.pdf
	In addition, daily assessments of supply and demand, displayed in millions of cubic metres per day, can be found on the National Grid website at:
	http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/Data/DSR

Sustainability and Carbon Impact Accreditation Scheme

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will support a sustainability and carbon impact accreditation scheme for all biomass consumed in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: This is a complex area, given the vast array of potential biomass sources and the different end uses. The right balance has to be struck in terms of supporting environmentally beneficial energy generation while avoiding over-regulation in what is still a relatively embryonic industry.
	The Government are interested in such accreditation schemes where they could be practical Currently we are looking at these as part of the co-firing review and the development of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation [RTFO]. The RTFO will place a mandatory reporting requirement on companies supplying biofuels from day one of the obligation to report in detail on the carbon savings of the biofuels supplied, as well as the impact on sustainability.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pension Credit

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in  (a) Lewisham, Deptford constituency and  (b) Lewisham borough receive pension credit.

James Purnell: As at February 2006, the number of pension credit individual beneficiaries for  (a)Lewisham Deptford constituency was 3,900 and  (b) Lewisham borough local authority area was 11,940.
	 Notes:
	1. These figures are early estimates. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figures provided are the latest available figures which are taken from the GMS scan at 17 February 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure. Average amounts are displayed as at the scan reference data of 17 February 2006.
	2. Numbers of individual beneficiaries are rounded to the nearest ten.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	4. The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners and may include partners aged less than 60.
	 Source: DWP: 100 per cent data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension credit scan taken as at 17 February 2006.

Pension Credit

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in each electoral ward in Beverley and Holderness receive pension credit; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Pension credit individual beneficiaries for wards in Beverley and Holderness parliamentary constituency, November 2005 
			  Ward name  Individual beneficiaries( 1) 
			 Beverley Rural 445 
			 Cottingham North(2) 345 
			 East Wolds and Coastal(2) 865 
			 Mid Holderness 700 
			 Minster and Woodmansey 845 
			 North Holderness 830 
			 St. Mary's 700 
			 South East Holderness 1,420 
			 South West Holderness 765 
			 Beverley and Holderness constituency total 5,700 
			 (1 )The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners. (2) Only part of Cottingham North and East Wolds and Coastal wards are in Beverley and Holderness Parliamentary Constituency  Notes: 1. Numbers of individual beneficiaries are rounded to a multiple of five. 2. Because of( '1') and ('2') wards will not always sum to constituency totals. 3. Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries.  Source:  DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data.

Compulsory Work-focused Interviews

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people starting on incapacity benefits in Liverpool and Wirral attended an initial work-focused interview since it became compulsory.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not available.
	The pathways to work regime only commenced on 24 April in the Liverpool and Wirral district. The first work-focused interviews do not take place until at least week eight, namely the end of June 2006. Early work-focused interviews data are only available three months after the first interviews. It will therefore be September/October before any are available for the Liverpool and Wirral district.

Employment (Rotherham)

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action his Department is taking to increase the number of people in work aged 50 years and over in Rotherham.

Jim Murphy: Like all other customers, people aged 50 and over can benefit from the range of services provided by Jobcentre Plus, including access to jobs and help and support to find work.
	Additional help is provided to older people who do not find work quickly. New deal 50-plus is a voluntary programme that provides people with advice and guidance from personal advisers, and access to in-work financial help through the 50-plus element of the working tax credit. Since April 2000, the programme has been successful in helping more than 150,000 older workers into employment, including 280 people in Rotherham. Once in work, new deal 50-plus customers can claim a training grant of up to 1,500 for training of which up to 300 can be used for life-long learning.
	People aged 50 and over, including those in Rotherham, are also eligible for help from new deal 25-plus. People who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for 18 months and who have not previously participated on new deal 25-plus, are already required to attend the gateway stage of the new deal 25-plus programme. This is a period of up to four months of intensive job search and specialist help and support to improve job prospects. This is followed by the intensive activity period (IAP) which is currently voluntary for people aged 50 and over. The IAP provides further support and pre-work training to help people return to work.
	Since April 2004, we have been piloting mandatory participation in the new deal 25-plus IAP for people aged 50-59 who have been claiming JSA for 18 months. The pilot has offered people in this age group more extensive help back to work. Rotherham was not part of the pilot, however. Interim pilot data have yielded positive results and, as announced in our Welfare Reform Green Paper, we will be commencing a phased national rollout.
	Between 1979 and the mid 1990s, the number of people on incapacity benefits trebled. Growth in the caseload has since slowed significantly, and in November 2005, there were 2.71 million people claiming incapacity benefits, a fall of 61,000 over the year. Although 46 per cent. of those claiming incapacity benefits are aged between 50 and state pension age, between 2000 and 2005 the number of people in the 50-plus age group fell by 52,000. This has contributed to the overall reduction in the incapacity benefits caseload.
	Like other age groups, people aged 50 and over will be able to benefit from the rollout of the successful pathways to work service across the whole country which will be completed by 2008. Pathways offers new IB customers early support from skilled personal advisers and direct access to a 'Choices Package' of employment programmes and clear financial incentives to make work pay. Any IB customer will be able to access the support and help available on a voluntary basis. Pathways has already begun helping people in the Rotherham area, having rolled out there in April.
	Our age positive campaign works with employers and others to promote the business benefits of an age diverse workforce and best practice on age in recruitment, training and promotion. In May 2005 we launched the 'Be Ready' national information campaign to raise employer awareness of, and ability to adopt, flexible employment and retirement opportunities to support the recruitment and retention of older workers in advance of age legislation due in October 2006.

Health and Safety

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many health and safety at work stability duties are defined in legislation as  (a) absolute and  (b) qualified as duties reduced to what is (i) reasonably practicable, (ii) practicable, (iii) reasonable, (iv) appropriate, (v) suitable and (vi) adequate.

Anne McGuire: The key duties in the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, to protect people from harm, are qualified by the term reasonably practicable. However in Regulations made under the Act there are a number of specific duties that are absolute and others that are qualified by terms including reasonable and practicable. Guidance is used to explain what is needed in practice. In terms of the specific number of times each term is used to qualify a duty in the various statutory provisions, this information is not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Human Resource Functions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the development of human resource functions within Departmental activities.

Anne McGuire: When the new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was formed in 2002, the Human Resources (HR) function inherited different sets of legacy HR policies and terms and conditions; paper driven systems: HR Service Centres dominated by low value added data input; Business HR teams preoccupied with detailed transactional based advice; and Corporate HR focussed on developing and maintaining detailed and over-prescriptive HR guidance.
	Working with colleagues from the DWP Businesses, the HR Senior Management Team designed a new HR Operating Model based on best practice in both the private and public sectors. The HR function now has in place a set of HR job roles common across the Department, delivering a uniform HR service.
	This new HR Operating Model places the emphasis on self service for employees and line managers, with on-line access to HR processes through the new Resource Management IT system which will be fully implemented in 2007. This is supported by a telephone based advice and guidance service provided by integrated HR and Finance shared service centres, and accessed through a single telephone number.
	The new Operating Model for HR in DWP has already allowed for a reduction in HR staff numbers from 5,500 to 3,000, and by March 2008 that number will be reduced by a further 500. This has freed up resources for front line work with our clients.
	Business HR teams focus on working strategically with operational managers on the HR issues affecting business performance. Corporate HR has been restructured to form four new Centres of Expertise which have improved and simplified the Department's HR policies, making them easier for line managers to interpret and use.

Jobseeker Assistance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to manage the transition of individuals from jobseeker to student status.

Jim Murphy: There are no special arrangements in place to help a person make the transition from a jobseeker to student status.

Mesothelioma

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funds are available to pay compensation to people who suffer from mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace when their employers or insurers cannot be traced; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 19 June 2006
	People suffering from mesothelioma due to exposure in the workplace can make a claim for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB), Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) and Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance (ESDA). From July 2002 people suffering from mesothelioma were exempted from the need to be medically examined by the Department if clear evidence is already available to confirm their condition. Alongside that change regulations were introduced to automatically award IIDB at the 100 per cent. rate. Currently this is 127.10. In addition CAA may also be payable dependant upon the level of the person's care needs. There are four rates of payment ranging from 25.45 to 101.80 a week. Where the two higher rates of CAA are in payment Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance (ESDA) may also be payable at the current weekly rate of 50.90. Where the relevant employer is no longer in business the person may also make a claim under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Worker's Compensation) 1979 Act scheme where the current average payment is 13,000.

Pensions

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive their pension  (a) every week in advance,  (b) every four weeks in arrears and  (c) every 13 weeks in arrears.

James Purnell: The information requested is not available.

Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effect of implementation of the Pensions White Paper proposals on achieving the Government's target of raising from 40 to 60 per cent., by 2020, the proportion of a pensioner's income coming from investments rather than taxes.

James Purnell: The proposals in the White Paper, 'Security in RetirementTowards a New Pensions System' (Cm 6841) provide the basis for an affordable and sustainable pensions system, which strikes a new balance of responsibility between employers, the State and individuals. As set out on p175 (para C.6) of the White Paper,
	it is proposed to cease monitoring progress against this PSA target from the start of the 2007 CSR period, and to investigate a more appropriate target regime.

Staff Absenteeism

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working days were lost to his Department and its executive agencies in each year since 1997 due to staff absenteeism, expressed as the average annual number of absent days per employee; and what the estimated total cost to the Department and its agencies of absenteeism was in each year.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 19 June 2006
	The information is contained in the following tables. The source of the figures is the Cabinet Office's annual reports on sickness absence in the Civil Service. Information for 2005 is not yet available.
	Absenteeism has been taken to mean absences due to sickness absence.
	The Department for Work and Pensions was created in July 2001, but it was not until 2003 that the systems for recording the relevant data were combined. The figures prior to 2003 therefore reflect the position in the Employment Service and Department for Social Security (and its agencies). The tables do not contain information about the Disability and Carers Agency because it did not exist as an executive agency prior to 2005.
	
		
			  Table 1: Average working days lost per staff year through sickness 
			  Organisation  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Appeals Service 
			 Child Support Agency 11.9 11.1 12.1 11.1 11.0 11.6 13.8 11.6 
			 Employment Service   11.5 11.8 12.8 13.5   
			 Jobcentre Plus (1)12.5 (1)11.1 (1)11.0 (1)11.1 (1)10.6 (1)10.8 12.0 9.8 
			 The Pension Service   10.5 9.5 
			 DWP Overall (2)12.2 (2)10.8 (2)10.9 (2)11.0 11.1 10.8 11.6 9.6 
			 DWP Staffing Numbers (2)91,499 (2)97,089 (2)90,170 (2)88,696 127,260 133,908 133,867 131,741 
			 (1) Benefits Agency.  (2) DSS only. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Estimated total cost of sickness absence in  million 
			  Organisation  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Appeals Service 
			 Child Support Agency 6.2 6.1 7.1 7.4 8.3 9.7 12.2 10.6 
			 Employment Service   27.4 29.3 33.9 37.4   
			 Jobcentre Plus (1)58.8 (1)56.8 (1)57.1 (1)57.6 (1)53.1 (1)52.5 78.9 67.5 
			 The Pension Service   15.4 13.6 
			 DWP overall (2)75.2 (2)72.1 (2)67.9 (2)68.7 102.9 109.1 122.6 106.2 
			 DWP staffing numbers (2)91,499 (2)97,089 (2)90,170 (2)88,696 127,260 133,908 133,867 131,741 
			 (1) Benefits Agency.  (2) DSS only.

PRIME MINISTER

Muslim Community (Government Policy)

Eric Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department is responsible for tackling  (a) extremism and  (b) racial hatred in communities.

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister which Government Ministers have responsibility for an aspect of policy on the Muslim community; what the aspect of policy is in each case; who has a co-ordinating role; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Ruth Kelly) has lead responsibility for these issues, working closely with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (John Reid) and a number of other Ministers.

Natural Gas Sales (Israel)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the Israeli Prime Minister on the sale of natural gas to Israel.

Tony Blair: I discussed a wide range of issues with Prime Minister Olmert during his recent visit. The sale of natural gas to Israel was not raised during our discussions.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the press conference I held with Prime Minister Olmert on 13 June. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Black/Asian Employees

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many  (a) black and Asian and  (b) other people are employed in her Department's press office.

Bridget Prentice: 13 staff are employed in the DCA press office.
	In accordance with civil service policy, information concerning the ethnic origin (or disability status) of individuals may not be disclosed where the number of staff in a particular category is less than five. This is to ensure that individuals cannot be identified.

Court Fines

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was collected in fines in each magistrates court area in England and Wales in each year since 1997; how much and what percentage was not collected; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: In response to how much was collected in fines in each magistrates court area in England and Wales, how much and what percentage was not collected, please see the following summary table. It is not possible to supply data before the financial year 1999-2000.
	
		
			  Enforcement of penaltiesamount imposed, amount paid and payment rates in financial years 1999-2000 to 2001-02 
			   Financial year 1999-2000  Financial year 2000-01 
			   Amount imposed ()  Amount paid ()  Payment rate indicator (%)  Amount imposed ()  Amount paid ()  Payment rate indicator (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 21,234,453 8,731,309 41 8,256,037 5,118,519 62 
			 Bedfordshire 6,237,890 3,431,592 55 4,762,726 2,625,514 55 
			 Cambridgeshire 5,500,017 3,473,988 63 6,118,702 3,155,588 52 
			 Cheshire 5,981,812 4,388,875 73 6,420,224 4,313,584 67 
			 Cleveland 3,197,606 2,665,031 83 3,380,616 2,319,844 69 
			 Cumbria 3,967,216 3,156,013 80 4,185,093 3,188,304 76 
			 Derbyshire 7,935,635 4,985,939 63 7,020,849 4,675,106 67 
			 Devon and Cornwall 7,180,005 4,974,813 69 7,279,584 5,290,410 73 
			 Dorset 3,558,750 2,530,147 71 3,592,052 2,675,217 74 
			 Durham 4,474,739 3,036,341 68 5,310,342 3,542,709 67 
			 Dyfed Powys 3,880,391 3,707,494 96 3,041,018 3,053,108 100 
			 Essex 9,718,017 7,703,981 79 9,632,053 7,349,376 76 
			 Gloucestershire 3,760,810 2,539,166 68 3,287,009 1,961,654 60 
			 Greater Manchester 25,484,149 13,761,052 54 24,215,936 14,562,131 60 
			 Gwent 5,064,062 3,486,064 69 4,269,866 2,865,115 67 
			 Hampshire and IoW 11,707,087 9,267,215 79 10,245,223 6,858,802 67 
			 Hertfordshire 6,561,714 4,964,653 76 6,103,980 4,558,579 75 
			 Humberside 5,214,617 3,716,800 71 6,597,406 4,293,588 65 
			 Kent 12,056,575 6,016,680 50 9,697,386 5,915,759 61 
			 Lancashire 13,602,372 9,379,132 69 12,690,739 8,193,617 65 
			 Leicestershire 6,110,729 4,473,995 73 7,492,423 4,723,608 63 
			 Lincolnshire 4,235,761 2,790,950 66 3,056,365 2,972,011 97 
			 London 94,967,927 46,421,680 49 76,577,889 39,432,244 51 
			 Merseyside 11,840,748 6,103,342 52 11,833,950 5,538,307 47 
			 Norfolk 4,805,503 3,356,849 70 4,264,754 2,942,701 69 
			 North Wales 4,597,264 2,520,358 55 5,267,895 2,683,157 51 
			 North Yorkshire 4,543,781 3,590,521 79 4,066,104 3,338,156 82 
			 Northamptonshire 5,438,515 3,188,007 59 4,910,690 3,060,016 62 
			 Northumbria 8,159,506 5,284,590 65 9,550,385 5,846,038 61 
			 Nottinghamshire 6,262,892 4,984,975 80 6,770,234 4,726,266 70 
			 South Wales 10,834,839 6,363,479 59 10,037,578 5,633,387 56 
			 South Yorkshire 8,490,089 5,532,959 65 8,405,414 6,095,843 73 
			 Staffordshire 6,960,328 5,938,204 85 6,590,544 5,961,893 90 
			 Suffolk 3,998,615 2,888,133 72 3,894,154 3,009,437 77 
			 Surrey 5,103,426 3,791,834 74 5,928,060 3,446,024 58 
			 Sussex 6,004,383 5,611,954 93 7,323,641 4,648,440 63 
			 Thames Valley 14,545,047 9,140,923 63 11,159,793 6,953,327 62 
			 Warwickshire 3,222,646 2,357,257 73 3,334,594 2,379,783 71 
			 West Mercia 7,770,822 6,944,215 89 6,914,544 4,296,436 62 
			 West Midlands 24,265,354 14,149,512 58 20,861,358 13,248,381 64 
			 West Yorkshire 18,619,468 12,672,455 68 17,135,576 12,129,269 71 
			 Wiltshire 4,015,688 3,304,395 82 3,475,273 2,874,453 83 
			 England and Wales 431,111,249 267,326,873 62 384,958,059 242,455,701 63 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year 2001-02 
			   Amount imposed ()  Amount paid ()  Payment rate indicator (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 11,561,805 6,246,094 54 
			 Bedfordshire 3,703,885 2,161,944 58 
			 Cambridgeshire 8,718,787 3,109,064 36 
			 Cheshire 6,705,822 3,871,051 58 
			 Cleveland 3,390,968 1,848,077 54 
			 Cumbria 3,702,431 2,816,019 76 
			 Derbyshire 7,729,698 4,455,819 58 
			 Devon and Cornwall 7,327,435 5,108,433 70 
			 Dorset 3,109,299 2,763,146 89 
			 Durham 4,076,050 3,042,991 75 
			 Dyfed Powys 2,268,413 1,654,410 73 
			 Essex 10,596,342 7,899,540 75 
			 Gloucestershire 4,252,548 1,836,517 43 
			 Greater Manchester 22,462,326 13,788,906 61 
			 Gwent 3,929,781 2,581,787 66 
			 Hampshire and IoW 9,315,278 6,380,475 68 
			 Hertfordshire 6,742,273 3,967,928 59 
			 Humberside 5,811,334 4,136,913 71 
			 Kent 9,521,137 6,064,552 64 
			 Lancashire 10,671,510 7,210,821 68 
			 Leicestershire 8,372,916 5,205,631 62 
			 Lincolnshire 3,595,711 2,722,850 76 
			 London 77,640,695 35,501,236 46 
			 Merseyside 11,317,472 3,823,093 34 
			 Norfolk 3,912,737 2,897,036 74 
			 North Wales 3,684,078 2,532,550 69 
			 North Yorkshire 3,393,075 2,530,846 75 
			 Northamptonshire 6,624,981 3,417,222 52 
			 Northumbria 8,846,159 5,501,723 62 
			 Nottinghamshire 6,702,188 4,381,751 65 
			 South Wales 10,347,223 4,179,596 40 
			 South Yorkshire 8,276,573 5,453,475 66 
			 Staffordshire 6,261,205 4,553,633 73 
			 Suffolk 3,246,556 2,279,240 70 
			 Surrey 6,097,432 4,814,701 79 
			 Sussex 6,626,799 4,106,942 62 
			 Thames Valley 12,844,660 9,613,757 75 
			 Warwickshire 4,498,636 2,071,893 46 
			 West Mercia 8,708,210 4,175,534 48 
			 West Midlands 22,857,114 13,204,009 58 
			 West Yorkshire 13,168,926 11,262,266 86 
			 Wiltshire 4,400,417 2,948,816 67 
			 England and Wales 387,020,885 228,122,287 59 
		
	
	
		
			  Enforcement of penaltiesamount imposed, amount paid and payment rates in financial years 2002-03 to 2003-04 
			   Financial year 2002-03  Financial year 2003-04 
			   Amount imposed ()  Amount paid ()  Payment rate indicator (%)  Amount imposed ()  Amount paid ()  Payment rate indicator (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 8,181,788 5,259,280 64 6,581,541 5,453,950 83 
			 Bedfordshire 3,480,794 2,025,001 58 3,217,745 2,564,347 80 
			 Cambridgeshire 7,212,583 3,238,169 45 3,210,889 3,224,845 100 
			 Cheshire 6,343,975 3,528,927 56 4,779,680 3,920,232 82 
			 Cleveland 4,216,677 1,975,152 47 2,266,883 2,069,593 91 
			 Cumbria 3,731,662 2,775,099 74 3,047,683 2,844,398 93 
			 Derbyshire 8,019,991 4,686,960 58 4,749,175 3,739,272 79 
			 Devon and Cornwall 8,789,409 5,532,765 63 9,873,585 6,704,025 68 
			 Dorset 3,129,353 2,389,428 76 2,643,658 1,903,910 72 
			 Durham 3,810,252 2,824,406 74 2,339,689 2,094,583 90 
			 Dyfed Powys 2,998,274 1,960,800 65 3,365,912 2,724,655 81 
			 Essex 11,051,684 8,218,465 74 7,563,279 7,086,532 94 
			 Gloucestershire 2,810,188 2,354,218 84 1,588,191 1,507,791 95 
			 Greater Manchester 23,784,474 15,219,139 64 17,344,135 11,042,983 64 
			 Gwent 5,112,864 2,928,599 57 3,955,803 3,360,805 85 
			 Hampshire and IoW 9,564,623 7,373,651 77 8,841,482 7,627,649 86 
			 Hertfordshire 6,601,848 4,435,570 67 5,727,925 3,863,481 67 
			 Humberside 5,435,985 3,624,952 67 4,718,436 4,516,649 96 
			 Kent 9,434,951 5,730,421 61 8,989,970 6,982,642 78 
			 Lancashire 11,325,845 7,126,465 63 6,711,749 5,795,054 86 
			 Leicestershire 6,860,746 4,714,845 69 5,709,902 3,952,913 69 
			 Lincolnshire 5,112,202 3,022,844 59 3,415,970 2,547,049 75 
			 London 111,347,014 44,495,021 40 47,952,038 31,645,334 66 
			 Merseyside 13,398,088 4,377,442 33 9,329,759 4,779,577 51 
			 Norfolk 3,788,526 2,844,567 75 3,715,257 2,919,610 79 
			 North Wales 5,413,000 2,887,586 53 3,583,071 3,178,919 89 
			 North Yorkshire 3,204,012 2,485,638 78 2,972,852 2,916,891 98 
			 Northamptonshire 5,444,863 3,447,419 63 2,794,817 2,673,425 96 
			 Northumbria 8,823,707 5,231,567 59 6,635,058 5,471,301 82 
			 Nottinghamshire 6,901,699 4,503,754 65 4,967,965 3,587,759 72 
			 South Wales 9,536,317 4,936,250 52 7,182,586 5,425,173 76 
			 South Yorkshire 8,461,741 5,127,542 61 5,161,514 4,167,192 81 
			 Staffordshire 7,974,944 4,533,341 57 5,449,145 4,254,355 78 
			 Suffolk 3,405,285 2,366,200 69 2,971,928 2,367,787 80 
			 Surrey 5,427,711 4,414,523 81 4,088,134 3,042,417 74 
			 Sussex 6,402,558 3,958,078 62 5,457,739 5,450,003 100 
			 Thames Valley 12,245,768 8,450,928 69 11,096,413 7,179,087 65 
			 Warwickshire 3,015,942 2,612,689 87 2,155,676 2,032,448 94 
			 West Mercia 6,807,395 4,845,635 71 5,272,176 4,164,120 79 
			 West Midlands 23,774,188 11,759,135 49 20,876,471 11,163,481 53 
			 West Yorkshire 18,252,877 8,550,736 47 13,134,576 7,571,589 58 
			 Wiltshire 5,228,069 3,546,903 68 3,483,436 3,267,524 94 
			 England and Wales 425,863,872 236,320,110 55 288,923,893 212,785,348 74 
		
	
	
		
			  Enforcement of penaltiesamount imposed, amount paid and payment rates in financial years 2004-05 to 2005-06 
			   Financial year 2004-05  Financial year 2005-06 
			   Amount Imposed ()  Amount Paid ()  Payment Rate Indicator (%)  Amount Imposed ()  Amount Paid ()  Payment Rate Indicator (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 7,948,689 6,878,919 87 7,734,598 6,124,502 79 
			 Bedfordshire 2,744,417 2,139,027 78 2,936,119 2,436,660 83 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,296,208 2,822,289 86 4,153,398 3,687,519 89 
			 Cheshire 5,180,828 4,085,346 79 4,840,719 4,791,401 99 
			 Cleveland 2,516,072 2,171,889 86 2,492,218 2,354,145 94 
			 Cumbria 2,765,714 2,681,329 97 2,858,788 2,840,769 99 
			 Derbyshire 4,648,554 4,209,793 91 4,266,717 4,857,201 114 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4,750,187 5,971,410 126 7,022,756 6,413,226 91 
			 Dorset 3,663,306 2,269,789 62 2,819,801 2,784,217 99 
			 Durham 2,265,054 2,070,258 91 2,341,258 2,379,607 102 
			 Dyfed Powys 2,641,003 2,203,184 83 2,562,871 2,502,131 98 
			 Essex 7,395,885 6,510,902 88 8,242,463 7,280,957 88 
			 Gloucestershire 2,464,600 1,819,717 74 1,918,887 1,823,054 95 
			 Greater Manchester 15,772,168 11,107,944 70 15,251,606 11,610,889 76 
			 Gwent 3,229,927 3,352,438 104 3,474,639 3,246,462 93 
			 Hampshire and IoW 8,431,525 6,700,807 79 7,181,544 6,590,935 92 
			 Hertfordshire 5,420,429 4,175,507 77 9,780,985 8,436,280 86 
			 Humberside 4,778,738 3,753,339 79 5,942,439 4,992,990 84 
			 Kent 6,475,262 6,143,751 95 7,451,502 6,822,687 92 
			 Lancashire 7,114,957 6,013,632 85 7,702,074 6,506,353 84 
			 Leicestershire 3,894,297 3,687,706 95 3,503,719 3,570,300 102 
			 Lincolnshire 3,349,590 2,626,271 78 3,637,855 2,777,762 76 
			 London 51,714,520 35,382,797 68 50,143,637 29,299,253 58 
			 Merseyside 7,128,720 4,696,852 66 5,237,199 4,831,009 92 
			 Norfolk 3,986,969 3,155,673 79 4,403,023 3,942,615 90 
			 North Wales 3,900,312 3,588,761 92 4,124,042 3,630,526 88 
			 North Yorkshire 2,683,969 2,742,599 102 3,317,421 2,892,148 87 
			 Northamptonshire 2,236,940 2,583,595 115 3,040,342 2,267,025 75 
			 Northumbria 6,815,232 5,683,778 83 8,267,441 6,906,915 84 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,726,004 3,852,901 82 4,789,057 4,496,320 94 
			 South Wales 5,951,434 6,504,962 109 5,825,380 6,379,040 110 
			 South Yorkshire 5,618,134 4,848,906 86 6,156,262 5,279,753 86 
			 Staffordshire 5,598,932 4,856,129 87 6,292,688 5,191,547 83 
			 Suffolk 3,559,578 3,644,661 102 3,143,588 3,427,199 109 
			 Surrey 3,778,199 3,317,686 88 4,225,944 3,775,311 89 
			 Sussex 5,688,083 4,657,455 82 6,450,802 4,828,379 75 
			 Thames Valley 11,512,798 7,459,054 65 9,233,047 8,403,329 91 
			 Warwickshire 2,914,110 2,102,697 72 2,136,288 2,268,732 106 
			 West Mercia 5,200,162 4,699,359 90 5,708,057 5,414,604 95 
			 West Midlands 18,352,137 12,313,153 67 15,414,399 12,250,536 79 
			 West Yorkshire 11,450,854 8,896,952 78 11,643,757 10,055,528 86 
			 Wiltshire 3,152,976 3,122,339 99 3,561,699 2,962,505 83 
			 England and Wales 276,717,475 221,505,558 80 281,231,031 233,332,326 83

Courts Act

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of the Courts Act 2003; and what recent representations she has received about the operation of this Act.

Harriet Harman: The Courts Act 2003 (CA 2003) has implemented the courts-related recommendations contained in Sir Robin Auld's review of the Criminal Courts in England and Wales (published in 2001). I have not received any recent representations concerning the operation of the CA 2003, which I continue to keep under review.

Data Protection

Anthony Steen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many organisations have  (a) been found guilty of breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 and  (b) been taken to court since it came into force.

Vera Baird: Failure to comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act is not in itself a criminal offence. Criminal offences can be committed under section 17 (processing personal data without notification) and section 55 (unlawful obtaining and selling of personal data).
	Since the Act came into force the Information Commissioner, who is the independent supervisory authority, has successfully prosecuted individuals and organisations in the criminal courts on 46 different occasions for offences under sections 17 and 55 of the Act. These figures do not include all those who have breached the Act or been served with an enforcement notice for a breach which is not a criminal offence.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff in her Department have had  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in each of the last three years.

Vera Baird: The number of sickness absence days is recorded by the Department; however while it is possible to extract information on absence spells from the data collection system currently in place, to do so would be a lengthy process, the cost of which would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
	The Department is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and has actively adopted the recommendations of the recently published Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector. A number of initiatives, including a new managing attendance policy and supporting systems, have been implemented over the last six months. These include awareness sessions and training for individuals and managers, stress and managing attendance toolkits, and targeted support from HR and welfare teams.

Departmental Websites

Charles Hendry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many websites there are within her responsibilities; and what the total cost of maintaining such websites was in the last year for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is listed in the following table.
	The table includes details and costs of websites.
	Numbers (1 )and( 2) indicate the hosting contract to which the website belongs. The costs of the two contracts are listed in the notes.
	Where a site has a declared cost but also comes under the auspices of a wider maintenance contract, the declared figure relates to costs incurred over and above the maintenance and hosting contract (such as domain name registration or software licence procurement).
	Entries with declared cost only do not belong to either hosting contract.
	
		
			  Organisation  Site address  Costs () (2005-06) 
			 Asylum and Immigration Tribunal www.ait.gov.uk (1) 
			 Civil Justice Council www.civiljusticecouncil.gov.uk (2) 
			 Commission for Judicial Appointments www.cja.gov.uk (2) 
			 Community Justice www.communityjustice.gov.uk (2)577 
			 Community Legal Service www.clsdirect.org.uk 505,228 
			 Council on Tribunals www.council-on-tribunals.gov.uk (2) 
			 Criminal Courts Review www.criminal-courts-review.org.uk (2) 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel www.cicap.gov.uk (1) 
			 Department for Constitutional Affairs www.dca.gov.uk (2) 
			 Employment Appeals Tribunal www.employmentappeals.gov.uk (1) 
			 Employment Tribunal www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk (1) 
			 Family Justice Council www.family-justice-council.org.uk (2) 
			 Finance and Tax Tribunals www.financeandtaxtribunals.gov.uk (1)15,962 
			 Gender Recognition Panel www.grp.gov.uk (1)4,930 
			 General Commissioners of Income Tax www.tribunalsservice.gov.uk/gcit (1)13,930 
			 Her Majesty's Courts Service www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk 301,980 
			 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Court Administration www.hmica.gov.uk (2)2,310 
			 Hutton Inquiry www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk (2) 
			 Immigration Services Tribunal www.immigrationservicestribunal.gov.uk (1)15,962 
			 Information Tribunal www.informationtribunal.gov.uk (1) 
			 Judicial Studies Board www.jsboard.co.uk (2) 
			 Land Registry www.landreg.gov.uk 9,977 
			 Lands Tribunal www.landstribunal.gov.uk (1)15,962 
			 Law Commission www.lawcom.gov.uk (2) 
			 Legal Services Commission www.legalservices.gov.uk 37,100 
			 Legal Services Research Centre www.lsrc.org.uk 118 
			 Legal Services Review www. legal-services-review.org.uk (2) 
			 Mental Health Review Tribunal www.mhrt.org.uk (1) 
			 National Archives www.nationalarchives.gov.uk 275,000 
			 National Archives other sites: family records, learning curve, a2a, Moving Here, Census Various (3) 
			 Northern Ireland Court Service www.courtsni.gov.uk 241,504 
			 Office of Legal Services Ombudsman www.olso.org 3,594 
			 Office of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner www.olscc.gov.uk (2) 
			 Official Solicitor and Public Trustee www.officialsolicitor.gov.uk (2)1,563 
			 Pensions Appeal Tribunals www.pensionsappealtribunals.gov.uk (1) 
			 Public Guardianship Office www.guardianship.gov.uk (2) 
			 Social Security and Child Support Appeals www.appeals-service.gov.uk (1) 
			 Social Security and Child Support Commissioners www.osscsc.gov.uk (1)17,632 
			 Special Education Needs and Disability Tribunal www.sendist.gov.uk (1) 
			 Transport Tribunal www.transporttribunal.gov.uk (1)15,962 
			 Tribunals Review www.tribunals-review.org.uk (2) 
			 Tribunals Service www.tribunalsservice.gov.uk (1) 
			 (1) The sites hosted by Cable and Wireless under contract. The hosting and element of this is 109,764 per annum. (2) The sites hosted by Cable and Wireless under contract. The hosting element of this is 715,344 per annum. (3) Complex arrangements with various partners. National Archives contribution assessable only at disproportionate cost.  Note:  Staff costs are not included (unless otherwise stated), and could be provided only at disproportionate cost

DNA Bioscience

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what guidance her Department issues to laboratories which wish to become accredited to provide court-admissible DNA tests;
	(2)  what measures are in place to ensure that laboratories not accredited to conduct court-admissible DNA tests do not submit DNA tests in court hearings;
	(3)  how many laboratories with accreditation to undertake court-admissible DNA testing have closed down in the last five years;
	(4)  how many laboratories have had their applications for licences to undertake court-admissible DNA tests turned down in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and what reasons were given for turning down their applications in each case;
	(5)  whether laboratories accredited to conduct court-admissible DNA testing are permitted to contract DNA tests out to other  (a) accredited companies and  (b) other unaccredited companies;
	(6)  what consultations were undertaken in the drawing up of the criteria applicable to laboratories applying for a licence to conduct DNA tests for paternity cases;
	(7)  what criteria her Department applies to laboratories applying for a licence to conduct court-admissible DNA tests; and when the criteria were most recently updated;
	(8)  how many laboratories licensed to undertake court-admissible DNA testing are operating in the UK; and how many laboratories have applications pending to undertake such testing;
	(9)  if she will list the laboratories licensed to conduct court-admissible DNA tests; and which  (a) hold and  (b) do not hold an International Standards Organisation 17025 Certificate;
	(10)  how many visits representatives of the Department made to the laboratories of DNA Diagnostics in Ohio, USA; and how many visits have been made by agencies based in the US on the Department's behalf;
	(11)  if she will list the companies accredited by the Department for conducting court-admissible DNA tests which have laboratories outside the UK;
	(12)  whether the Department has received representations concerning DNA Bioscience from the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) during 2005;
	(13)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the application for accreditation to conduct court-admissible DNA tests submitted by DNA Bioscience;
	(14)  what systems are in place to monitor the financial accounts of companies that have been accredited to conduct court-admissible DNA tests;
	(15)  what action will be taken by the Department against companies that supply incorrect information during the accreditation process for conducting court-admissible DNA tests.

Bridget Prentice: My Department is currently investigating the matters raised in the hon. Member's question, and I will write when I am in a position to do so.

DNA Bioscience

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures are in place to ensure that laboratories licensed to perform court admissible DNA tests conform to the standards required by the ISO 17025 Certificate.

Bridget Prentice: My Department is currently investigating the matters raised in the hon. Member's question, and I will write when I am in a position to do so.

DNA Bioscience

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  if she will take steps to ascertain the nature and level of the ISO certification of  (a) DNA Diagnostic and  (b) DNA Bioscience as providers of services to her Department;
	(2)  what representations have been received by the Department on the performance of DNA Bioscience; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what investigations have been initiated by the Department into DNA Bioscience.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member for Monmouth to my reply on 24 October 2005,  Official Report, column 8W. I am still investigating the matters raised in the hon. Member's questions, and I will write when I am in a position to do so.
	 Substantive answer from Ms Harman to David T.C. Davies:
	 Parliamentary Questions - Accredited list of paternity testers
	You tabled a number of questions relating to the list maintained by the Department for Constitutional Affairs of bodies which may carry out court directed scientific tests for parentage (numbers 20036, 20110, 20111, 20120 to 20125, 20883, 21275, 21276, 21598 to 21601, 22730 22744, and 22745. The answers are contained in a paper that has been placed in the libraries of both Houses today. I enclose a copy.
	 Accreditation of Paternity Testing Bodies by the Department for Constitutional Affairs
	 Introduction
	This paper covers the ground raised in Parliamentary Questions (numbers 20036, 20110, 20111, 20120 to 20125, 20883, 21275, 21276, 21598 to 21601, 22730, 22744, 22745 and 25226) tabled in the Commons toward the end of last year.
	The Department for Constitutional Affairs maintains a list of bodies accredited by it to carry out scientific tests for parentage (nowadays usually DNA tests) under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969. This list is for use by the civil courts in England and Wales where the court makes a direction under section 20 of the 1969 Act.
	Section 20 directions are not given in every civil case where parentage is an issue. Where parties submit DNA evidence by agreement and without any section 20 direction being given, it is not essential for the testing body to be chosen from the accredited list. As with other evidence, it is for the court to consider questions of admissibility and weight of the evidence.
	 Background to the accredited list
	The Family Law Reform Act 1969 made provision for court-directed blood testing to determine paternity. The provisions were amended in the Child Support Pensions and Social Security Act 2000, to refer to scientific tests (reflecting the development of DNA technology which could be applied to bodily samples other than blood). References to paternity were replaced with parentage so as to be gender-neutral.
	Section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969 provides that in any civil proceedings a court may give a direction for the use of scientific tests to ascertain whether such tests show that a party to the proceedings is or is not the father or mother of a person whose parentage falls to be determined. By virtue of subsection (1A), tests may only be carried out by a body which has been accredited for the purposes of section 20 by the Lord Chancellor, or a body appointed by him for the purpose. Section 20(2) of the 1969 Act provides that the individual carrying out court-directed scientific tests must report to the court stating the results, whether a person is excluded from parentage and (if not) the value of the results in determining parentage. The report is to be received as evidence of the matters stated. It must be in a prescribed form (subsection (3)). Any party may seek a written explanation or amplification, which is deemed to be part of the report (subsection (4)). A party must serve notice of an intention to call the tester within 14 days of receiving the report. It is expressly provided that where the tester is called as a witness the party is entitled to cross-examine him (subsection (5)).
	Section 22 provides that the Lord Chancellor may make regulations about section 20 directions and may prescribe conditions for eligibility for accreditation (subsection (1)(f)). The regulations are the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971, as amended (including to reflect the 2000 Act).
	 The Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971, as amended
	These Regulations set out the detailed changes that made it possible for bodily samples other than blood to be taken, and for scientific tests to be used to establish whether a person is a natural parent of the person whose parentage is to be determined. The Regulations also provided that the tests were to be carried out by an accredited body (rather than an individual, which was the case under the previous scheme).
	Regulation 8A provides that a body shall not be eligible for accreditation for the purposes of section 20 of the 1969 Act unless it is accredited to ISO/IEC/17025 by an accreditation body which complies with the requirements of ISO Guide 58 (now replaced by ISO 17011).
	The Regulations also deal with the procedures for taking bodily samples, despatch to a tester, testing and then reporting to the court. The Regulations require the completion of 2 statutory forms. Form 1 is called a Direction Form and is to be filled in by the court, the sampler and the tester. Form 2 is called Report by Tester and is to be filled in by the tester. All of this is designed to ensure that the right people actually provide samples, that the same samples reach the tester, and that the nominated tester does the testing and reports to the court.
	 Criteria for DCA accreditation prior to the recent review
	The ISO accreditation is a statutory requirement for section 20 accreditation by the Department, as set out above. Bodies wishing to be added to the Department's accredited list were expected to produce evidence (either an original or a certified copy) of a valid and current ISO/IEC/17025 accreditation certificate, given by an accreditation body that complies with ISO/IEC Guide 58 (now ISO 17011).
	A further non-statutory requirement was added, as a matter of policy. This was a requirement to give an undertaking to comply with the Department of Health's  Code of Practice and Guidance on Genetic Paternity Testing Services. This Code sets out best practice and clear standards for organisations delivering paternity testing services generally.
	These criteria were put in place in 2001, when the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 773) came into effect.
	More recent practice has been to require that written applications be made to be added to the DCA accredited list.
	The particular International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards were chosen because they were considered to be the most appropriate standards for this area of activity. ISO/IEC/17025 is an accreditation given to testing and calibration laboratories that meet certain competence requirements. There was no formal or public consultation on the criteria chosen for accreditation, but the 2001 Regulations, as a statutory instrument, had the approval of Parliament. The Department of Health's Code was put together by an ad-hoc advisory group on genetic paternity testing services, whose membership included service providers, clinicians, academics and scientists.
	 Ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 standards
	The accreditation bodies ensure compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 by undertaking regular reviews and re-accreditations. Because accreditation bodies are the technical experts, it is not necessary or appropriate for representatives of the Department themselves to visit any of the DCA-accredited laboratories, and no-one from the Department has ever done so. For the purposes of DCA accreditation, if an up to date and valid ISO 17025 certificate is produced (an original or certified copy) and the accreditation body is ISO Guide 58 (now ISIO 17011) compliant, then this is proof enough of the laboratory's competence.
	Bodies accredited by DCA are not permitted to contract out parentage tests directed by the court under s20 to any other organisation.
	 How the courts ensure accredited bodies carry out parentage tests where a section 20 direction is given
	Where the court is considering an application for a paternity test in the course of civil proceedings, and the parties do not agree to the testing, then section 20 of the 1969 Act is available. The court may give a formal direction (on Form 1, a statutory form, part of the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (as amended)) which will include the name and address of the body that is to carry out the test. The body will be chosen from the list of accredited bodies. The tester (a person employed to carry out scientific tests by an accredited laboratory) will complete and sign Form 2, (the Report by the Tester) to certify the result of the test. As explained above, the Regulations, which include the two statutory forms, are designed to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the samples, and that the nominated tester carries out and reports on the test.
	The list the Department maintains relates only to bodies which may carry out court-directed scientific tests for parentage in accordance with a direction made by a court pursuant to section 20 of the Family Law Act 1969. Where the court has not directed the test, parties to a case may submit DNA evidence by agreement and in accordance with case management directions of the court. It is not essential for the testing body to be chosen from the accredited list. As with other evidence, it is for the court to consider questions of admissibility and weight.
	 The investigation
	Starting in October last year, a number of Questions were tabled in Parliament and the Department received a number of press enquires about DNA Bioscience and the accredited list generally. This prompted an investigation as to the eligibility of each of the bodies on the accredited list, and the work also extended to a review of the processes and procedures associated with adding bodies to the list and the maintenance of it.
	The review did not extend to any examination of the financial accounts of the bodies on the DCA accredited list. DCA has no responsibility in this area. The bodies on the accredited list do not provide services to the Department. The accredited list simply exists to provide the civil courts with the names of bodies that reach a certain standard for use when the court directs a test under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969.
	The courts dealing with civil proceedings (including family proceedings) were informed about the review, and of the details of the laboratories to which referrals for court-directed tests should be made until the accredited list was re-issued. The laboratories concerned had provided the Department with up to date evidence they had the requisite ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and with up to date undertakings that they complied with the Department of Health's Code.
	The Department undertook to remove ineligible bodies from the accredited list. There were six bodies that were found to be ineligible, including DNA Diagnostics Center and DNA Bioscience, three public sector laboratories (one of which no longer carries out paternity testing) and one body, not itself a testing body, which works in conjunction with another public sector laboratory. These bodies can no longer carry out section 20 tests and the civil courts have been informed. However, the Department has found no evidence that any individual or organisation has supplied misleading or incorrect information during the accreditation process and so further action taken against any individual or company would not be appropriate.
	 DNA Diagnostics Center and DNA Bioscience
	DNA Bioscience was not, itself, accredited by the DCA to carry out court-directed tests under s20. It was not a testing facility, so had no ISO 17025 accreditation and therefore was not eligible. Following an application from DNA Bioscience, DCA agreed in October 2003 that DNA Diagnostics Center (the laboratory DNA Bioscience used to conduct DNA tests) could be added to the accredited list. DNA Diagnostics Center is a US laboratory with ISO/IEC/17025 accreditation, accredited by Forensic Quality Services - a US accreditation body. DNA Diagnostics Center was shown on the accredited list with a Chelmsford address then belonging to DNA Bioscience. The Department was aware that DNA Bioscience was acting as an intermediary for DNA Diagnostics Center.
	The Department agreed orally in December 2004 that DNA Bioscience's details could be added to the accredited list, but DNA Bioscience did not make an application to be added to the accredited list on its own account. The intention was to add those details as a referral route to the accredited body (DNA Diagnostics Center).
	The Department is not aware of anything to suggest that reliable evidence was not produced for the courts in relation to court-directed tests.
	No DCA Minister, current or past, has had any communication, conversation, or correspondence with David Blunkett about DNA Bioscience.
	 Applications turned down and laboratories closed down
	From the Departmental records available, it appears that one application was received in 2003 from a laboratory that had no ISO 17025 accreditation. The laboratory in question indicated that they intended to apply for ISO 17025 accreditation, but nothing further was heard from them.
	Nothing has been found in the Department's records that are now available to indicate that any laboratory accredited by DCA to carry our court-directed parentage tests has closed down in the past five years.
	 Bodies currently accredited
	The following laboratories, all based in the UK, have submitted evidence of valid and up to date accreditation to the relevant ISO standard. They have recently given signed undertakings to comply with revised criteria (see New criteria). They were all bodies on the previous list.
	Cellmark Diagnostics (now Orchid Cellmark),
	Crucial Genetics,
	LGC Diagnostics, and
	The Forensic Science Service
	No laboratories outside the UK are currently accredited, but there is no statutory bar on the accreditation of overseas laboratories. The Department will continue to consider application from laboratories, wherever situated (see New criteria below).
	 New criteria and policy
	As a result of the review, the Department will now require applications to be made on a form prescribed by it, signed and submitted in hard copy.
	As before, bodies wishing to be added to the accredited list must have a current and valid ISO/IEC 17025 certificate that has been issued by an accreditation body which complies with ISO/IEC 17011 (formerly ISO Guide 58) An original certificate or a certified copy must be submitted with the application form. There is a new requirement that the accreditation body must also be a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). The Department considers that this is needed to demonstrate independent evidence of ISO/IES 17011 compliance. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the UK body that complies with this new requirement.
	Bodies wishing to be added to the accredited list must undertake to comply with the Code of Practice and Guidance on Genetic Paternity Testing Services, published by the Department of Health, or any revised version thereof.
	With regard to the Code, although the undertaking applies to parentage tests directed by the court pursuant to s20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969, the Government strongly encourages providers of genetic paternity testing services to adhere to the Code for all tests. Applicants will be made aware of that view and will be informed that when section 45 of the Human Tissue Act comes into force later this year, it will be a criminal offence to take DNA, with the intention of having it tested, without consent.
	Bodies wishing to be added to the accredited list must undertake to comply, or ensure compliance with, the procedures as set out in the Blood Test (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (SI 1971/1861) (as amended).
	Bodies wishing to be added to the accredited list must undertake to limit any statement regarding DCA accredited status on any promotional material, advertising, or web-site information to the following:
	[Name of Organisation] has been accredited by the Department for Constitutional Affairs as a body that may carry out parentage tests directed by the civil courts in England and Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969.
	Applicants will be advised that the Department regards phrases such as 'Government approved', 'Lord Chancellor approved' or 'DCA approved' as misleading and therefore not acceptable.
	All organisations on the DCA accredited list will be expected to be subject to an annual review to confirm eligibility, including compliance with the accreditation criteria to remain on the list. This will include giving renewed undertakings as set out above and ensuring compliance with any revised criteria.
	In future, the Department will not accept applications from intermediaries. The Department will continue to consider applications from laboratories outside the UK, but if any should meet the (revised) criteria and are added to the list, they will be shown with their overseas addresses and other contact details. If an overseas laboratory makes an application proposing to use an intermediary in the UK, the laboratory will be asked to explain how its proposed use of an intermediary would conform with the relevant legislation (The Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (as amended)).
	This information and guidance will be published on the Department's web-site.
	 Applications pending
	The Department currently has seven applications or enquiries about how to apply which the Department will now pursue and consider against the revised list of criteria. A revised list will then be issued.

DNA Bioscience

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether DNA Bioscience is accredited for DNA-related work in the UK.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies) on 24 October 2005,  Official Report, column 8W. I am still investigating the matters raised by the hon. Member's question, and I will write when I am in a position to do so.
	 Substantive answer from Ms Harman to Mr. Laws:
	 Parliamentary Question - Accredited list of paternity testers
	You tabled a question asking whether DNA Bioscience is accredited for DNA-related work in the UK (number 25226). The answer is contained in the paper, covering a number of issues on the accreditation of DNA paternity testers, which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses today. I enclose a copy.
	 Accreditation of Paternity Testing Bodies by the Department for Constitutional Affairs
	 Introduction
	This paper covers the ground raised in Parliamentary Questions (numbers 20036, 20110, 20111, 20120 to 20125, 20883, 21275, 21276, 21598 to 21601, 22730, 22744, 22745 and 25226) tabled in the Commons toward the end of last year.
	The Department for Constitutional Affairs maintains a list of bodies accredited by it to carry out scientific tests for parentage (nowadays usually DNA tests) under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969. This list is for use by the civil courts in England and Wales where the court makes a direction under section 20 of the 1969 Act.
	Section 20 directions are not given in every civil case where parentage is an issue. Where parties submit DNA evidence by agreement and without any section 20 direction being given, it is not essential for the testing body to be chosen from the accredited list. As with other evidence, it is for the court to consider questions of admissibility and weight of the evidence.
	 Background to the accredited list
	The Family Law Reform Act 1969 made provision for court-directed blood testing to determine paternity. The provisions were amended in the Child Support Pensions and Social Security Act 2000, to refer to scientific tests (reflecting the development of DNA technology which could be applied to bodily samples other than blood). References to paternity were replaced with parentage so as to be gender-neutral.
	Section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969 provides that in any civil proceedings a court may give a direction for the use of scientific tests to ascertain whether such tests show that a party to the proceedings is or is not the father or mother of a person whose parentage falls to be determined. By virtue of subsection (1A), tests may only be carried out by a body which has been accredited for the purposes of section 20 by the Lord Chancellor, or a body appointed by him for the purpose. Section 20(2) of the 1969 Act provides that the individual carrying out court-directed scientific tests must report to the court stating the results, whether a person is excluded from parentage and (if not) the value of the results in determining parentage. The report is to be received as evidence of the matters stated. It must be in a prescribed form (subsection (3)). Any party may seek a written explanation or amplification, which is deemed to be part of the report (subsection (4)). A party must serve notice of an intention to call the tester within 14 days of receiving the report. It is expressly provided that where the tester is called as a witness the party is entitled to cross-examine him (subsection (5)).
	Section 22 provides that the Lord Chancellor may make regulations about section 20 directions and may prescribe conditions for eligibility for accreditation (subsection (1)(f)). The regulations are the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971, as amended (including to reflect the 2000 Act).
	 The Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971, as amended
	These Regulations set out the detailed changes that made it possible for bodily samples other than blood to be taken, and for scientific tests to be used to establish whether a person is a natural parent of the person whose parentage is to be determined. The Regulations also provided that the tests were to be carried out by an accredited body (rather than an individual, which was the case under the previous scheme).
	Regulation 8A provides that a body shall not be eligible for accreditation for the purposes of section 20 of the 1969 Act unless it is accredited to ISO/IEC/17025 by an accreditation body which complies with the requirements of ISO Guide 58 (now replaced by ISO 17011).
	The Regulations also deal with the procedures for taking bodily samples, despatch to a tester, testing and then reporting to the court. The Regulations require the completion of 2 statutory forms. Form 1 is called a Direction Form and is to be filled in by the court, the sampler and the tester. Form 2 is called Report by Tester and is to be filled in by the tester. All of this is designed to ensure that the right people actually provide samples, that the same samples reach the tester, and that the nominated tester does the testing and reports to the court.
	 Criteria for DCA accreditation prior to the recent review
	The ISO accreditation is a statutory requirement for section 20 accreditation by the Department, as set out above. Bodies wishing to be added to the Department's accredited list were expected to produce evidence (either an original or a certified copy) of a valid and current ISO/IEC/17025 accreditation certificate, given by an accreditation body that complies with ISO/IEC Guide 58 (now ISO 17011).
	A further non-statutory requirement was added, as a matter of policy. This was a requirement to give an undertaking to comply with the Department of Health's  Code of Practice and Guidance on Genetic Paternity Testing Services. This Code sets out best practice and clear standards for organisations delivering paternity testing services generally.
	These criteria were put in place in 2001, when the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 773) came into effect.
	More recent practice has been to require that written applications be made to be added to the DCA accredited list.
	The particular International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards were chosen because they were considered to be the most appropriate standards for this area of activity. ISO/IEC/17025 is an accreditation given to testing and calibration laboratories that meet certain competence requirements. There was no formal or public consultation on the criteria chosen for accreditation, but the 2001 Regulations, as a statutory instrument, had the approval of Parliament. The Department of Health's Code was put together by an ad-hoc advisory group on genetic paternity testing services, whose membership included service providers, clinicians, academics and scientists.
	 Ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 standards
	The accreditation bodies ensure compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 by undertaking regular reviews and re-accreditations. Because accreditation bodies are the technical experts, it is not necessary or appropriate for representatives of the Department themselves to visit any of the DCA-accredited laboratories, and no-one from the Department has ever done so. For the purposes of DCA accreditation, if an up to date and valid ISO 17025 certificate is produced (an original or certified copy) and the accreditation body is ISO Guide 58 (now ISIO 17011) compliant, then this is proof enough of the laboratory's competence.
	Bodies accredited by DCA are not permitted to contract out parentage tests directed by the court under s20 to any other organisation.
	 How the courts ensure accredited bodies carry out parentage tests where a section 20 direction is given
	Where the court is considering an application for a paternity test in the course of civil proceedings, and the parties do not agree to the testing, then section 20 of the 1969 Act is available. The court may give a formal direction (on Form 1, a statutory form, part of the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (as amended)) which will include the name and address of the body that is to carry out the test. The body will be chosen from the list of accredited bodies. The tester (a person employed to carry out scientific tests by an accredited laboratory) will complete and sign Form 2, (the Report by the Tester) to certify the result of the test. As explained above, the Regulations, which include the two statutory forms, are designed to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the samples, and that the nominated tester carries out and reports on the test.
	The list the Department maintains relates only to bodies which may carry out court-directed scientific tests for parentage in accordance with a direction made by a court pursuant to section 20 of the Family Law Act 1969. Where the court has not directed the test, parties to a case may submit DNA evidence by agreement and in accordance with case management directions of the court. It is not essential for the testing body to be chosen from the accredited list. As with other evidence, it is for the court to consider questions of admissibility and weight.
	 The investigation
	Starting in October last year, a number of Questions were tabled in Parliament and the Department received a number of press enquires about DNA Bioscience and the accredited list generally. This prompted an investigation as to the eligibility of each of the bodies on the accredited list, and the work also extended to a review of the processes and procedures associated with adding bodies to the list and the maintenance of it.
	The review did not extend to any examination of the financial accounts of the bodies on the DCA accredited list. DCA has no responsibility in this area. The bodies on the accredited list do not provide services to the Department. The accredited list simply exists to provide the civil courts with the names of bodies that reach a certain standard for use when the court directs a test under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969.
	The courts dealing with civil proceedings (including family proceedings) were informed about the review, and of the details of the laboratories to which referrals for court-directed tests should be made until the accredited list was re-issued. The laboratories concerned had provided the Department with up to date evidence they had the requisite ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and with up to date undertakings that they complied with the Department of Health's Code.
	The Department undertook to remove ineligible bodies from the accredited list. There were six bodies that were found to be ineligible, including DNA Diagnostics Center and DNA Bioscience, three public sector laboratories (one of which no longer carries out paternity testing) and one body, not itself a testing body, which works in conjunction with another public sector laboratory. These bodies can no longer carry out section 20 tests and the civil courts have been informed. However, the Department has found no evidence that any individual or organisation has supplied misleading or incorrect information during the accreditation process and so further action taken against any individual or company would not be appropriate.
	 DNA Diagnostics Center and DNA Bioscience
	DNA Bioscience was not, itself, accredited by the DCA to carry out court-directed tests under s20. It was not a testing facility, so had no ISO 17025 accreditation and therefore was not eligible. Following an application from DNA Bioscience, DCA agreed in October 2003 that DNA Diagnostics Center (the laboratory DNA Bioscience used to conduct DNA tests) could be added to the accredited list. DNA Diagnostics Center is a US laboratory with ISO/IEC/17025 accreditation, accredited by Forensic Quality Services - a US accreditation body. DNA Diagnostics Center was shown on the accredited list with a Chelmsford address then belonging to DNA Bioscience. The Department was aware that DNA Bioscience was acting as an intermediary for DNA Diagnostics Center.
	The Department agreed orally in December 2004 that DNA Bioscience's details could be added to the accredited list, but DNA Bioscience did not make an application to be added to the accredited list on its own account. The intention was to add those details as a referral route to the accredited body (DNA Diagnostics Center).
	The Department is not aware of anything to suggest that reliable evidence was not produced for the courts in relation to court-directed tests.
	No DCA Minister, current or past, has had any communication, conversation, or correspondence with David Blunkett about DNA Bioscience.
	 Applications turned down and laboratories closed down
	From the Departmental records available, it appears that one application was received in 2003 from a laboratory that had no ISO 17025 accreditation. The laboratory in question indicated that they intended to apply for ISO 17025 accreditation, but nothing further was heard from them.
	Nothing has been found in the Department's records that are now available to indicate that any laboratory accredited by DCA to carry our court-directed parentage tests has closed down in the past five years.
	 Bodies currently accredited
	The following laboratories, all based in the UK, have submitted evidence of valid and up to date accreditation to the relevant ISO standard. They have recently given signed undertakings to comply with revised criteria (see New criteria). They were all bodies on the previous list.
	Cellmark Diagnostics (now Orchid Cellmark),
	Crucial Genetics,
	LGC Diagnostics, and
	The Forensic Science Service
	No laboratories outside the UK are currently accredited, but there is no statutory bar on the accreditation of overseas laboratories. The Department will continue to consider application from laboratories, wherever situated (see New criteria below).
	 New criteria and policy
	As a result of the review, the Department will now require applications to be made on a form prescribed by it, signed and submitted in hard copy.
	As before, bodies wishing to be added to the accredited list must have a current and valid ISO/IEC 17025 certificate that has been issued by an accreditation body which complies with ISO/IEC 17011 (formerly ISO Guide 58) An original certificate or a certified copy must be submitted with the application form. There is a new requirement that the accreditation body must also be a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). The Department considers that this is needed to demonstrate independent evidence of ISO/IES 17011 compliance. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the UK body that complies with this new requirement.
	Bodies wishing to be added to the accredited list must undertake to comply with the Code of Practice and Guidance on Genetic Paternity Testing Services, published by the Department of Health, or any revised version thereof.
	With regard to the Code, although the undertaking applies to parentage tests directed by the court pursuant to s20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969, the Government strongly encourages providers of genetic paternity testing services to adhere to the Code for all tests. Applicants will be made aware of that view and will be informed that when section 45 of the Human Tissue Act comes into force later this year, it will be a criminal offence to take DNA, with the intention of having it tested, without consent.
	Bodies wishing to be added to the accredited list must undertake to comply, or ensure compliance with, the procedures as set out in the Blood Test (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (SI 1971/1861) (as amended).
	Bodies wishing to be added to the accredited list must undertake to limit any statement regarding DCA accredited status on any promotional material, advertising, or web-site information to the following:
	[Name of Organisation] has been accredited by the Department for Constitutional Affairs as a body that may carry out parentage tests directed by the civil courts in England and Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969.
	Applicants will be advised that the Department regards phrases such as 'Government approved', 'Lord Chancellor approved' or 'DCA approved' as misleading and therefore not acceptable.
	All organisations on the DCA accredited list will be expected to be subject to an annual review to confirm eligibility, including compliance with the accreditation criteria to remain on the list. This will include giving renewed undertakings as set out above and ensuring compliance with any revised criteria.
	In future, the Department will not accept applications from intermediaries. The Department will continue to consider applications from laboratories outside the UK, but if any should meet the (revised) criteria and are added to the list, they will be shown with their overseas addresses and other contact details. If an overseas laboratory makes an application proposing to use an intermediary in the UK, the laboratory will be asked to explain how its proposed use of an intermediary would conform with the relevant legislation (The Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (as amended)).
	This information and guidance will be published on the Department's web-site.
	 Applications pending
	The Department currently has seven applications or enquiries about how to apply which the Department will now pursue and consider against the revised list of criteria. A revised list will then be issued.

Electoral Registration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which local authorities use telephone registration to register electors.

Bridget Prentice: A number of local authorities use telephone registration to register electors. As electoral services are delivered at local level the information sought would be held by individual local authorities and is not collected by central Government.

Electoral Registration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what rules govern registration to vote by telephone; and whether she plans to change these rules.

Bridget Prentice: Section 10 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 requires electoral registration officers (EROs) to use a form when carrying out an annual canvass for the purpose of compiling the electoral register. When doing this there is no bar in current electoral legislation to EROs using telephone systems to enable households to report no change to the information given during the previous annual canvass. There are no plans to change these rules.

Repossessions

David Ruffley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many court orders have been issued for the repossession of homes in  (a) Bury St. Edmunds constituency and  (b) the Suffolk county council area in each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: The following table shows the number of mortgage possession orders made at each of the Suffolk county courts (Bury St. Edmonds, Ipswich and Lowestoft) since 1997.
	The civil procedure rules provide that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. However, these county courts cover areas that are not necessarily consistent with other administrative boundaries, and therefore there may be possession actions entered in these courts that relate to homes located outside Suffolk.
	These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts, since not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
	
		
			  Number of mortgage( 1 ) possession orders made at Bury St. Edmunds county court and other Suffolk county courts, 1997 to 2005 
			   Possession orders made( 2) 
			   Bury St. Edmunds  Ipswich  Lowestoft  Suffolk 
			 1997 56 113 50 219 
			 1998 68 117 58 243 
			 1999 72 136 37 245 
			 2000 37 66 75 178 
			 2001 35 51 58 144 
			 2002 18 60 54 132 
			 2003 48 46 64 158 
			 2004 47 79 82 208 
			 2005 99 123 125 347 
			 (1) Local Authority and Private. (2) The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department was consulted by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists prior to the publication of its guidance The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department had the opportunity to comment on the draft of the evidence-based guideline prior to its publication in 2000 and its revision in 2004.

Adult Mental Health Services (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what action she is taking to ensure delivery of Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust's proposals to redesign adult mental health services;
	(2)  if she will take steps to ensure that reductions are not made in adult and older people's mental health services in Milton Keynes.

Caroline Flint: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

Alcohol Dependency

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is available in 2006-07 for the treatment of alcohol dependency when that dependency is not secondary to class A drug misuse.

Caroline Flint: National health service primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning alcohol misuse treatment according to local need. The estimated annual spend on specialist alcohol treatment is 217 million.

Autism

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Stroud constituency are diagnosed with autism; and how many of these are children.

Caroline Flint: Information on the number of people including children in the Stroud constituency who are diagnosed with autism is not available.

Avastin

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government policy is on the availability of Avastin for the treatment of bowel cancer.

Rosie Winterton: Bevacizumab (Avastin) in combination with irinotecan, is currently licensed for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic bowel cancer. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently assessing the use of Avastin in the treatment of bowel cancer and final guidance from NICE is expected in November 2006.
	In the interim period, the Department has made clear to the national health service, in guidance issued in 1999, that primary care trusts should not refuse to fund specific drugs or treatments simply because they have not yet been appraised by NICE. In these circumstances health bodies are expected to reach their own decisions on whether to use the drug based on their assessment of the available evidence.

Bebington and West Wirral Primary Care Trust

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has held with Bebington and West Wirral Primary Care Trust on  (a) the siting of new practice clinics and  (b) the provision of funding to patient groups lobbying for development in the green belt.

Rosie Winterton: No discussions have been held with Bebington and West Wirral primary care trust regarding the siting of new practice clinics and the provision of funding to patient groups lobbying for development in the green belt. The provision of local healthcare facilities is the responsibility of primary care trusts with the support of their strategic health authorities.

Botox Syringes

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies have assessed the merits of the over-the-counter sale of pre-filled Botox syringes.

Andy Burnham: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for reviewing the reclassification of the legal status of a medicinal product from prescription only to over-the-counter supply. An assessment of the suitability of a medicinal product for pharmacy or general sale list sale or supply usually follows an application from a marketing authorisation holder. Any application to change the legal status of a particular medicine will be considered carefully against the criteria in European and United Kingdom legislation. Patient safety remains the prime consideration and any application would be required to demonstrate its safety in use and that relevant patient and professional education issues had been addressed adequately.
	The MHRA has not considered the reclassification of products containing botulinum type A neurotoxin, such as Botox.

Cancer

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of patients referred by their general practitioner with suspected breast cancer were assessed by a specialist within two weeks in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what percentage of patients have been treated for breast cancer within six weeks of  (a) diagnosis and  (b) referral by general practitioner over the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: In the last three years 99.3 per cent. of patients with breast cancer were seen by a specialist within two weeks of urgent referral by their general practitioner, in England.
	Data on waiting times for cancer treatment is not recorded in the format requested. In England, the NHS Cancer Plan introduced cancer waiting times standards of a maximum one month wait from diagnosis with breast cancer to first treatment and a maximum two months from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment for breast cancer to be achieved from December 2001 and December 2002 respectively. In the last twelve months 98.9 per cent. of patients received treatment for breast cancer within one month of diagnosis and 98.1 per cent. received treatment within two months of urgent referral by their general practitioner.
	Data on national health service performance on all cancer waiting times targets is published quarterly on the Departments' website at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/.
	A copy has been placed in the Library.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the press release issued by her Department on 2 June 2006, on fastest treatment ever for cancer patients, on what date the decision was taken that  (a) 98 per cent. compliance would constitute success in meeting the 31-day waiting time target and  (b) 95 per cent. compliance would constitute success in meeting the 62-day waiting time target.

Rosie Winterton: Following discussions with the Healthcare Commission an agreement was reached on 24 June 2005 on the 5 per cent. and 2 per cent. tolerances for clinical exceptions for the 62 and 31-day cancer waiting times targets.

Cancer

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the accuracy and effectiveness of cervical cancer screening.

Rosie Winterton: In May 2004, the international agency for research on cancer, part of the World Health Organisation, concluded that organised and quality controlled cervical screening can achieve an 80 per cent. reduction in the mortality of cervical cancer. Women aged 25 to 49 should be screened no more than every three years, and women aged 50 to 64 no more than every five years. This is in line with national policy on cervical screening in England.
	In July 2004, Professor Julian Peto and colleagues published a paper in  The Lancet, 'The cervical cancer epidemic that screening has prevented in the UK'. The paper concluded that cervical screening has prevented an epidemic that would have killed about one in 65 of all British women born since 1950 and culminated in about 6,000 deaths per year in this the United Kingdom. 80 per cent. or more of these deaths, up to 5,000 deaths per year, are likely to be prevented by screening, which means that about 100,000 women will have been saved from premature death by the cervical screening programme by 2030(1).
	The advisory committee on cervical screening meets twice a year to advise the Government on the development of cervical screening and to monitor its effectiveness and efficiency.
	In 2004-05 in England, 80.3 per cent. of eligible women had a test result in the last five years(2). 3.6 million women were screened and laboratories reported four million tests.
	(1) Peto et al, Lancet 2004; 364: 249-56.
	(2) National Statistics and The Information Centre for health and social care statistical bulletin, cervical screening programme, England: 2004-05.

Cancer

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how widespread is provision of human papilloma virus testing for screening against cervical cancer via the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: Human papilloma virus (HPV) testing is currently only available in the national health service as part of research trials.
	The Government are funding two such trials.
	First is the trial of management of borderline and other low grade abnormal smears which is funded by the Medical Research Council. This study was set up to determine the most appropriate way to deal with HPV positive results and associated psychological issues. The study is due to report in 2007.
	Second is a randomised trial of HPV testing in primary cervical screening, which is funded by the Department's health technology assessment programme (HTA). This trial is investigating the use of HPV testing as a primary screening tool. The study is due to report in mid-2008.
	In addition, as part of the Government-funded pilot study of liquid based cytology, the Department also piloted the use of HPV testing as triage for women with mild or borderline test results. There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of HPV testing as a primary screening tool. However, we do not underestimate the importance of HPV in the development of cervical cancer.
	Following the receipt of the independent evaluation report of the HPV arm of the pilot, the advisory committee on cervical screening has now set up a dedicated working group to advise on how best to introduce HPV testing into the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme; what funding has been allocated for the revision of the programme; and when this funding will be made available.

Rosie Winterton: The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) is being reviewed based on the evidence of the evaluation of the programme, which has been carried out by the Cancer Research UK primary care education research group.
	The evaluation was extensive. Two literature reviews have already appeared in academic journals:
	Patient information, informed decision-making and the psycho-social impact of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing (Hewitson et al, British Journal of Urology International 2005;95(S3): 16-32)
	Reduction in uptake of PSA tests following decision aids: systematic review of current aids and their evaluations (Evans et al, Patient Education and Counselling 2005;58:13-26)
	The results of an on-line questionnaire survey with 400 general practitioners (GPs) examining current reported PSA testing practice in primary care as well as GP attitudes towards informed decision-making and PSA testing were published in the journal British Medical Council Family Practice (Brett et al, 2005;6:24).
	The results of a randomised trial of men's knowledge, attitudes and intention to have a PSA test will be published in the journal Patient Education and Counselling later this year (Watson et al).
	The results of an evaluation of the patient information sheet for men in the PCRMP information pack PSA testing for prostate cancer are due to be submitted to a journal shortly.
	The report of a study to develop an understanding of what occurs in GP consultations which result in a request for a PSA test, from the perspective of the GP and the patient, is being written up prior to submitting for publication.
	The PCRMP primary care packs will be rewritten based on the results of this extensive evaluation, and a consideration of any new evidence. This work will be overseen by the PCRMP scientific reference group, with close links to the prostate cancer advisory group and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence prostate cancer guideline development group. The timing of the rewrite will depend on the extent of the changes to be made to the packs based on the evidence. A full consultation of the revised packs will take place. Funding will be made available to the national health service for this programme.

Care UK

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation process her Department undertook prior to awarding Care UK a contract for the running of a general practitioner practice and walk-in centre in Barking and Dagenham.

Caroline Flint: Strategic health authorities were asked by the Department to communicate with primary care trusts (PCTs) and gauge any interest in being involved in the innovation in primary care contracting programme, which was announced on 29 March 2005. Barking and Dagenham PCT expressed an interest in discussing the programme further and was identified as being suitable for the programme.
	Responsibility for carrying out stakeholder involvement in relation to the services the PCTs wanted to procure lay with the PCTs and confirmation that this had taken place has been secured from the PCTs.

Health Care(Gloucestershire)

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether  (a) the Dilke memorial hospital and  (b) the Lydney and district hospital are included on the choose and book system in Gloucestershire.

Caroline Flint: Both the Dilke memorial hospital and the Lydney and district hospital are listed on choose and book with services loaded.

Health Care(Gloucestershire)

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) consultants' clinics have been held and  (b) patients have attended such clinics in each month since January 2005 at (i) the Dilke memorial hospital and (ii) the Lydney and district hospital, broken down by consultant specialism.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not available.

Dentistry

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of dental practices in Norwich, North have decided to opt out of the NHS in the last 12 months; and how many dentists this figure represents.

Rosie Winterton: As at 31 March 2006, there were 12 dental practices and 58 dentists within the Norwich, North parliamentary constituency working in the national health service general dental services (GDS) or personal dental services (PDS).
	During the period 31 March 2005 to 31 March 2006, no dental practices left the GDS or PDS. During the same period, three dentists left the GDS or PDS, while 11 dentists joined the GDS or PDS, providing a net increase of eight dentists within the Norwich, North parliamentary constituency.
	Norfolk's primary care trusts (PCTs) are reinvesting with local dental practices to enable them to treat more patients. They have also made other improvements to dental services with approximately 20 extra dentists being recruited to the county, in the last two years, using the Department's international recruitment scheme.
	Information on the number of dentists who have signed the new contract by 1 April 2006 is not available centrally. We do however have some provisional information that covers contracts. A contract may be for more than one dentist so cannot be broken down further to individual dentist level. The following tables show the number of new dental services contracts that were signed and rejected at strategic health authority (SHA) level and by PCTs in the Norwich, North constituency area and the percentage of dental services these rejections represent.
	
		
			  SHA  Contracts signed  Contracts rejected  Units of dental activity (UDA) percentage (contracts rejected) 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 358 52 4 
		
	
	
		
			  PCT  Contracts signed  Contracts rejected  UDA percentage (contracts rejected) 
			 Norwich 30 7 6.4 
			 Broadland 14 4 8.8 
			 Southern Norfolk 33 5 5.8 
			  Notes:  1. Data have been provided by the Information Centre for health and social care and the data source is the Business Services Authority.  2. A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with their PCT. Information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual GDS or PDS dentists is not centrally available.  3. Dentists consist of principals, assistants and trainees. Prison contracts have been excluded.  4. The postcode of the dental practice was used to allocate dentists to specific geographic areas. Constituency areas have been defined using the Office for National Statistics all fields postcode directory.  5. The data for dentists who have left the NHS include those who have retired.

Dentistry

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to monitor the impact of the new dental contract on access to dental care.

Rosie Winterton: Under the new arrangements, the NHS Business Services Authority will monitor the numbers of patients who receive care or treatment from national health service primary care dentists on one or more occasions within a given period of time, as had previously been the system for most personal dental services pilots.
	I have asked the implementation review group, which has been set up to review the impact of the NHS dental reforms and identify any issues that need to be addressed, for views on what time period should be used as the main basis for this monitoring.

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has received representations from patients who have been removed from a general dental practitioner's list because of a failure to attend an appointment; what estimate she has made of the number of patients who have been removed from a general dental practitioner's list because of a failure to attend an appointment since the introduction of the new general dental services contract and personal dental services agreement; and whether the threat of removing a patient from a dentist's list if they fail to attend an appointment is a method  (a) sanctioned,  (b) approved and  (c) recommended by her Department for the reduction of the number of failures to attend appointments.

Rosie Winterton: We are not aware of any representations from patients whose dentist has declined to provide further treatment because of failure to attend agreed appointments. No estimate has been made of the number of patients whose dentist has terminated treatment on these grounds.
	Paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to both the national health service (general dental services contracts) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No 2005/3361) and the national health service (personal dental services agreements) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No 2005/3373) provide that where, in the reasonable opinion of the contractor, there has been an irrevocable breakdown in the relationship between the patient and that contractor, and notice of such a breakdown has been given to the patient by the contractor, the contractor may notify the primary care trust (PCT) that it will no longer provide services to that patient under the contract.
	Persistent failure by a patient to keep appointments without good cause constitutes an irrevocable breakdown in the relationship.
	Terminating treatment is not a step that any dentist takes lightly. PCTs are encouraged to work with national health service contractors to help them to manage their appointment systems in ways that minimise missed appointments and therefore the need for this sanction. This is in the interest of patients and dentists.

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what safeguards are in place to prevent patients from mistakenly receiving private dental treatment in the belief that it is being provided on the NHS; and what recourse is available to patients who incur charges in this way;
	(2)  what consent is required from patients for private dental treatment by NHS dentists.

Rosie Winterton: An Office of Fair Trading Report, 'The Private Dentistry Market in the United Kingdom', published in 2003, identified the need for improvements in the regulation of private dentistry. The Department has worked with the General Dental Council (GDC) to implement the report's recommendations. The GDC has revised its maintaining standards guidance to require dentists to provide the information that patients need to choose whether they wish to be treated under the national health service or privately. The guidance specifies,
	non-compliance with these standards will put a dentist's registration at risk.
	Through amendments to the Dentists Act 1984, approved by Parliament last July, the GDC has introduced a service for the investigation and resolution of complaints about private dentistry. The service can be accessed through the website www.dentalcomplaints.org.uk or by telephone on 08456 120 540.

Diamorphine

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much diamorphine was used by the NHS in each of the last five years; and how much she expects to be used in 2006-07;
	(2)  what the sources are of the supply of diamorphine used by the NHS;
	(3)  what criteria her Department uses to decide how much diamorphine the health service requires;
	(4)  whether she has been informed of a shortage of supply of diamorphine in any NHS hospital; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The usage of diamorphine in the national health service in the community in England for each of the last five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   British national formulary chemical name  Number of prescription items (Thousand)  Net ingredient cost (000) 
			 2001 Diamorphine hydrochloride 95.9 3,287.1 
			 2002 Diamorphine hydrochloride 96.0 3,312.0 
			 2003 Diamorphine hydrochloride 98.6 3,686.4 
			 2004 Diamorphine hydrochloride 102.9 3,974.2 
			 2005 Diamorphine hydrochloride 60.8 1,802.9 
		
	
	This information is taken from the prescription cost analysis (PCA) system, supplied by the prescription pricing division of the Business Services Authority (formerly known as the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA)), and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community in England.
	A comparable volume figure on the use of diamorphine hydrochloride in hospitals is not available, however estimates of the cost of diamorphine issued in hospitals in England is in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimated list price cost of diamorphine hydrochloride issued in hospitals in England 
			   Estimated list price cost (000) 
			 2001 3,945.9 
			 2002 3,898.4 
			 2003 4,052.2 
			 2004 3,808.8 
			 2005 1,772.6 
		
	
	This information is taken from the hospital pharmacy audit database supplied to the Department by IMS health.
	Overall costs of diamorphine hydrochloride dispensed in the community and in hospitals are at a similar level. The cost figures may have fallen in recent years due to a reduction in price as well as a decrease in use.
	The Department is aware that there is an ongoing shortage of diamorphine injection. This began in December 2004, when Chiron (now Novartis), one of the two suppliers of this product to the NHS, experienced problems at its manufacturing plant. The other supplier, Wockhardt UK, immediately increased its production but was unable to fill the gap. Chiron came back into production in July 2005, and both companies are now manufacturing to their full available capacity. However, supplies are limited and are likely to remain so for the coming months.
	It is not possible to predict how much will be used in 2006-07, or how much diamorphine the NHS requires. There is a continuing shortfall of production against historic demand, and use will depend, to some extent, on availability of the product. It will also depend on whether doctors and other healthcare professionals maintain the prescribing and purchasing strategies established to cope with the shortage, following Departmental guidance issued in December 2004.
	The Department is in close contact with both suppliers of diamorphine and is continuing to monitor the supply situation carefully.

Ear Piercing

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what legislation ear piercing is regulated in England and Wales; what plans she has to review this legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Ear piercing businesses are regulated in England and Wales under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. This provides local authorities with powers to regulate ear piercing by requiring businesses to register and observe byelaws relating to the cleanliness and hygiene of premises, practitioners and equipment. It is an offence for a business to trade without being registered or to breach byelaws and such offences may lead to the suspension or cancellation of registration.
	This legislation is kept under ongoing review, and there are no current plans to amend the provisions relating to ear piercing.
	Ear piercing businesses in London are regulated by local authorities under private legislation which requires licensing and observance of licence conditions. It is an offence for a business to trade without a licence or fail to observe licence conditions. Local authorities also have enforcement powers in relation to ear piercing businesses under Health and Safety at work legislation.

Ear Piercing

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will bring forward legislation to require those who practise ear piercing on persons under 16 years of age to display in a prominent position a notice stating the requirements for parental consent; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There is no statutory minimum age of consent for ear piercing. Minors, that is, those who are under the age of 18, are able to give valid consent if they are capable of understanding the nature of the act to be done. Furthermore, the courts have held that a parent's right to decide on behalf of his/her child yields to the child's competence to make a decision.
	There are no current plans to introduce a statutory minimum age of consent for ear piercing nor to require parental consent for those under 16 years of age. We believe that introducing a minimum age of consent might result in children piercing themselves or each other in an unhygienic or unsafe manner or going to disreputable businesses. However, we keep the position under review.
	The Health and Safety Executive has produced guidelines on the enforcement of skin piercing activities for local authorities including advising businesses on adopting a reasonable approach to age of consent issues. The guidelines are available at www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/76.2.htm.

Food Broker Businesses

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the Food Standards Agency in establishing a timetable for the comprehensive inspection and licensing of food broker businesses.

Caroline Flint: Food brokers do not have to be licensed under the new European Union hygiene regulations, but they are required to register their establishments with the appropriate local authority. Local authorities' food hygiene inspection programmes are planned on a risk-based approach laid down in the statutory Food Law Code of Practice, to which enforcers must have regard. This code also covers circumstances at a food establishment that may warrant an inspection outside the planned inspection programme.

Health Service Circular 1999/176

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review and re-issue Health Service Circular 1999/176 to clarify her instructions to trusts.

Andy Burnham: The Department is planning to update and issue guidance to the national health service on the managed introduction of new health technologies later this year.

Healthcare Commission

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to paragraph 25 of the Department's interim guidance of March 2006 (Gateway Ref 6212), on the role of the Healthcare Commission, under what statutory provision the Commission will be responsible for the regulation of controlled drugs.

Andy Burnham: Responsibility for the regulation of controlled drugs will be given to the Healthcare Commission by regulations stemming from the current Health Bill. Subject to Parliamentary procedure and approval, we expect the regulations to be laid in the autumn.

Healthcare Commission

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions representatives of the Healthcare Commission have  (a) examined and  (b) taken copies of patients' private and confidential notes held by (i) private clinics and (ii) general practitioners offering a private health service in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: I understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that the information is not available in the form requested. I also understand from the chairman that since March 2006 the Commission has been recording the details of occasions when confidential personal information has been obtained from independent healthcare providers without the data subject's consent: however, the data are not broken down by type of establishment.

Hepatitis C

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to reassess its Hepatitis C action plan following the report of the all-party parliamentary hepatology group; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The results of the all-party parliamentary hepatology group report indicate that progress is being made in implementing the Hepatitis C action plan for England. Around two thirds of the primary care trusts who responded are taking steps to implement the action plan and the majority of national health service hospital trusts did not report significant delays for patients awaiting treatment.
	However, the results of the surveys may serve as a useful focus for discussion by local NHS organisations. They are responsible for implementation of the action plan at the local level and are best placed to assess what is needed in their areas, taking account of other priorities.

Hospital Procedures (Costs)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of  (a) an elective in-patient hospital procedure,  (b) a hospital day case procedure and  (c) an NHS hospital procedure in 2005-06.

Andy Burnham: Cost data relating to the financial year 2005-06 are not yet available.

Influenza

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 4 April 2006,  Official Report, column 123W, on influenza, what she expects the expanded production capacity will be in the UK.

Caroline Flint: The expansion of manufacturing capacity is an ongoing process. Much depends on research and development results. One promising approach is the incorporation of adjuvants (agents to enhance the immune response), thereby allowing smaller quantities of the vaccine itself to be used, expanding the numbers of available doses. The Department is in close touch with both industry development plans and the international initiatives to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity.

Insulin

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to improve education for diabetes patients on the self-administration of insulin.

Rosie Winterton: From January 2006, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), guidance on patient education required all primary care trusts to implement NICE recommendations by providing all people with diabetes with high quality, structured education which should include information on insulin.

Medical Treatment (Under-16s)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on whether health professionals request the involvement of parents or guardians of persons under 16 years of age before any medical treatment is given; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not commissioned research into the involvement of parents or guardians in decisions about medical treatment for young people.

Mental Health

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to promote the safety of mental health staff providing care and support in services outside the statutory sector.

Rosie Winterton: The independent Healthcare Commission registers and inspects the private and voluntary health sector. The Commission inspects the sector against a range of national minimum standards set by the Government particularly focused on mental health establishments, including requirements covering staff training, risk assessment and management, managing disturbed behaviour, managing serious/untoward incidents, and patient restraint and physical interventions. Further details are available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/83/67/04078367.pdf.
	Best practice around the management of adults presenting disturbed/violent behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings is set out in the clinical guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2004.
	The National Institute for Mental Health in England will publish revised guidance on positive practice to support the safe and therapeutic management of aggression and violence in mental health in-patient settings in 2006.

Mental Health

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign mentally-disordered individuals are held in special hospitals under mental health legislation.

Rosie Winterton: None of the high security psychiatric, formerly special, hospitals collect specific information about the nationality of their patients. They all record place of birth as reported by the patient but this in itself is not an accurate method of determining nationality.

Mental Health

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of drugs prescribed on the NHS for psychiatric and mental health purposes in the last year for which figures are available; and which five categories of psycho-active prescriptions  (a) were prescribed in the greatest volume and  (b) cost the most in that year.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the requested format. Prescription cost analysis (PCA) provides details of the number of items and the net ingredient cost of all prescriptions dispensed in the community in England according to British National Formulary (BNF) therapeutic classes. Drugs that appear in BNF chapter four (central nervous system) are usually, but not exclusively, prescribed for psychiatric and mental health purposes. The most recent PCA is at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/prescostanalysis2005.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will list the mental health hospitals which operate mixed sex wards;
	(2)  how many mixed sex wards operate in acute mental hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The Department does not collect information on the number of single-sex or mixed-sex wards in use in national health service hospitals.
	Between 1998 and 2005 the provision of single-sex accommodation was measured as compliance at NHS trust level with three objectives set by the Department.
	The results of the most recent compliance survey (December 2004) show that:
	99 per cent., of NHS trusts provided single-sex sleeping accommodation for planned admissions and had robust operational policies in place to protect patients' privacy and dignity;
	99 per cent., of NHS trusts met the additional criteria set to ensure the safety of patients who are mentally ill; and
	97 per cent., of NHS trusts provided properly segregated bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women.
	The small number of hospitals who did not achieve these objectives are building new hospitals.
	The 2004 position of each NHS trust was published on 26 May 2005 and is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk and in the Library.
	These objectives have been superseded by the core national standards presented in standards for better health.
	The core standards require that:
	Staff treat patients, their relatives and carers with dignity and respect (CIS); and
	Health care services are provided in environments which promote effective care and optimize health outcomes by being ...Supportive of patient privacy and confidentiality (C20b)
	The Healthcare Commission will assess compliance with these standards.

Merton and Sutton Better Healthcare Closer to Home Programme

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1016W, on the Merton and Sutton Better Healthcare Closer to Home Programme, on what date she expects to publish her response to the local national health service.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 19 June 2006
	As stated previously, the Department has received the response from the local national health service and is currently considering the situation. This is a complex issue and it is therefore difficult to predict when the Department will be in a position to publish a response.

NHS Employment

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidence was for her statement in the foreword to her Department's 2006 Departmental Report, published on 11 May 2006,  Official Report, column 6814, that the NHS is the third largest employer in the world.

Rosie Winterton: There have been various estimates by a number of media and international organisations of the world's largest employers and there is some debate as to the exact ranking of the national health service. In 2004, the Department estimated that the NHS is the third largest public employer in the world, behind the Indian Railways and the United States Department of Defence. Although there may be some debate as to the exact ranking of the NHS in terms of its comparative size as an employer, what is not in any doubt is that the NHS is one of the largest employing organisations in the world today.

NHS IT Programme

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the recently expressed views of the Chief Executive of Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust on the centralised and standardised approach of the NHS IT programme.

Caroline Flint: Sir Jonathan expressed views on a one size fits all, centralised information technology (IT) solution for the national health service. However, it has been demonstrated by independent analysis that the aggregated procurement has saved over 3.8 billion for the taxpayer over procurements by individual trusts. Moreover, the provision of a national information system architecture that makes patient information available at point of need will improve patient safety. In addition, it provides a common computer system interface which makes training easier and more economic across different trusts which should also improve accuracy and consistency in treatment. History suggests that the NHS does not have a good track record of procuring, developing or using IT at a local level. An accreditation programme has already enabled 46 local and previously incompatible systems to exchange data with and via national systems. A degree of local flexibility is important but good interoperability across the NHS is critical to patient care and this is what the national programme for IT will achieve.

NHS Trust Savings

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) efficiency savings and  (b) savings resulting from technical adjustments were required by each NHS Trust in (i) 2004-05 and (ii) 2005-06; what these figures represent as a percentage of each budget; and what such savings will be required in 2006-07.

Andy Burnham: The annual uplift to the national tariff includes an offset for efficiency savings realisable from front line national health service services. An uplift is applied every year to incentivise a continuous improvement approach to efficiency. The respective efficiency savings equate to 1 per cent. in 2004-05, 1.7 per cent. in 2005-06 and 2.5 per cent. for 2006-07. The efficiency offset is applicable to all national health service trusts.
	There is no recognised classification of savings resulting from technical adjustments and it is therefore not possible to provide any information on this request.

Nutrient Profiling

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has accepted the nutrient-profiling model recommended by the Food Standards Agency.

Caroline Flint: The Government's manifesto includes a commitment to help parents by restricting further the advertising and promotion to children of those foods and drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar.
	The Department believes that the nutrient profiling model, developed by the Food Standards Agency for use by Ofcom, provides a scientific and objective base for underpinning regulatory intervention in relation to television advertising to children.

Obesity

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of  (a) children and  (b) adults are (i) obese and (ii) overweight when measured by body mass index according to the Government's most recent health survey figures in (A) Peterborough constituency, (B) Peterborough city council area, (C) the east of England and (D) England.

Caroline Flint: The main source of data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and adults is the Health Survey for England (HSE). Data is not available in the format requested. Table one to four sets out the most recent data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adults.
	Table one presents the data on overweight and obesity among adults in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire (the strategic health authority (SHA) which contains Peterborough) as a three-year average over the period 2000 to 2002. The sample size of the HSE does not allow figures to be produced below SHA level, nor does it allow an SHA breakdown for children.
	
		
			  Table 1. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults aged 16 and over in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA (3 year average), 2000 to 2002 
			   Percentages 
			 Overweight 42.1 
			 Obese 22.6 
			 Base 1,285 
			  Source:  Health Survey for England: Health and Lifestyle indicators for Strategic Health Authorities 1994 to 2002, Department of Health. 
		
	
	Table two shows the proportion of adults who were overweight and obese in east of England Government office region (GOR) in 2003.
	
		
			  Table 2. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults aged 16 and over in east of England Government office region by gender, 2003 
			   Percentages 
			  Men  
			 Overweight including obese 67.6 
			 Obese 24.0 
			   
			  Women  
			 Overweight including obese 56.6 
			 Obese 24.0 
			   
			  Bases (unweighted)  
			 Men 728 
			 Women 825 
			   
			  Bases (weighted)  
			 Men 755 
			 Women 735 
			  Source:  Health Survey for England 2003. Department of Health 
		
	
	Tables three and four set out the most recent available data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and children in England in 2004.
	
		
			  Table 3. Prevalence of obesity and overweight among adults aged 16 and over by gender, England 2004 
			   Percentages 
			  Men  
			 Overweight 44 
			 Overweight including obese 67 
			 Obese 23 
			   
			  Women  
			 Overweight 34 
			 Overweight including obese 57 
			 Obese 23 
			   
			  Bases (weighted)  
			 Men 39,244 
			 Women 39,803 
			  Source:  Health Survey for England 2004. The Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4. Prevalence of obesity and overweight among children aged two to 15 by gender, England 2004 
			  England  Percentages 
			  Boys  
			 Overweight 13.9 
			 Overweight including obese 33.0 
			 Obese 19.2 
			   
			  Girls  
			 Overweight 16.6 
			 Overweight including obese 35.1 
			 Obese 18.5 
			   
			  Bases (weighted)  
			 Boys 8,833 
			 Girls 8,228 
			  Source:  Health Survey for England 2004updating of trend tables to include 2004 data. The Information Centre for health and social care.

Obesity

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the relationship between body mass index and malnutrition in children.

Caroline Flint: Malnutrition occurs when a deficiency, excess or imbalance of energy, protein, and other nutrients causes measurable adverse effects on tissue, function and clinical outcome.
	The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and malnutrition in children is not straightforward as it is affected by age, gender, growth patterns and ethnicity. A BMI below the second centile of the UK 1990 BMI Percentile Charts for children, indicates that a child is at risk of malnutrition whilst a BMI above the 95th centile indicates that a child is at risk of being obese.

Palliative Care Beds (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of palliative care beds in Worcestershire; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Funds are allocated direct to primary care trusts (PCTs) who are responsible for commissioning appropriate services to meet the needs of their local communities. It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs) to work with PCTs and national health service trusts to ensure that those services commissioned do meet the needs of local communities and reflect national priorities. In this instance, this is a matter for West Midlands SHA.
	The Department collects data relating to individual ward types. The information relating to the number of adult terminally ill/palliative care beds within the South Worcestershire PCT area is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Average daily number of available terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult beds, NHS organisations in England, 2001-02 to 2004-05 
			  South Worcestershire PCT  Number 
			 2001-02 0 
			 2002-03 0 
			 2003-04 5 
			 2004-05 6 
			  Source:  Department of Health form KH03

Palliative Care for the Terminally Ill

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to support the Palliative Care for the Terminally Ill Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are still considering the Bill, and will make their position known in due course.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cancer centres have  (a) permanent Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offices located on the same site and  (b) access to outreach PALS offices;
	(2)  how many cancer patients were assisted by the Patient Advice and Liaison Service in the last year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Because of the local nature of the patient advice and liaison service (PALS), the Department does not keep central data relating to PALS operational activities.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training is available to patient advice and liaison service (PALS) workers to enable them to offer or refer clients to information and advice on welfare benefits; what proportion of PALS workers have  (a) requested and  (b) received such training.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is working with the Department for Work and Pensions to make available advice on benefits to all patients including those with a terminal illness.
	Our Health, Our Care, Our Say; a new direction for community services proposes that an information prescription will be developed for people with long-term health and social care needs. The information prescription will signpost people, including patients with cancer, to further information and advice about services, including where to get advice and information on benefits. We expect to include any support, like training, that professionals might need to give information prescriptions to people, in pilots that will be taking place before the prescription is introduced in 2008.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on which occasions in the last five years local authority scrutiny panels have referred complaints against NHS trusts to her Department; and which authorities made the referrals in each case;
	(2)  on how many occasions in the last five years local authority scrutiny panels, having considered complaints against NHS trusts, have referred matters to her Department.

Rosie Winterton: Within the last five years, there have been 13 referrals from overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) to the Secretary of State for Health. These are shown in the table.
	
		
			  OSC  Date of referral 
			 South East Kent and Thanet Community Health Councils(1) April 2002 
			 Wiltshire OSC October 2004 
			 Hampshire OSC January 2005 
			 Merton OSC March 2005 
			 South Gloucestershire OSC July 2005 
			 Wirral OSC July 2005 
			 Lincolnshire OSC July 2005 
			 Surrey OSC October 2005 
			 Cambridgeshire OSC February 2006 
			 Suffolk OSC March 2006 
			 Gloucestershire OSC March 2006 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees Joint OSC April 2006 
			 Hertfordshire OSC May 2006 
			 (1 )Referral originally made under Community Health Council Regulations 1996.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers overview and scrutiny committees have  (a) to delay the introduction of health service changes,  (b) to oppose such changes and  (c) to present her with a clear proposal for further investigations.

Rosie Winterton: The overview and scrutiny committee (OSC) has the power to refer decisions on substantial changes to the Secretary of State. This referral can be on the grounds of the following:
	if consultation with the OSC has been inadequate; and
	if the OSC does not believe the proposals for change are in the interests of the health service or local community.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers overview and scrutiny committees have to co-opt outside expertise.

Rosie Winterton: Overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) have powers set out in the Local Government Act 2000 to co-opt non-voting members onto OSCs. These co-opted members can be
	a member of a committee of the county council or another local authority, for the purposes of relevant function of the committee in relation to the county council; or
	a member of a committee of the county council, for the purposes of relevant functions of the committee in relation to another local authority.
	This power enables county councils to co-opt members of OSCs from district councils to participate as full members of the OSC considering health services.
	In addition to formal co-option, OSCs can ask people, such as members of patient forums, to participate in other ways, for example, by providing information to the committee, attending as an expert witness, or acting as an adviser to the committee.

Unregistered Laser Machines

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has received from the Healthcare Commission on the number of unregistered laser machines in medical use in England; and what steps she has taken to reduce this number.

Andy Burnham: I have received no such information and understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that it is not available. The Chairman has said, however, that he would consider that there are very few unregistered laser machines being used for medical purposes, that is for laser eye surgery. The Commission has held discussions with the sector and its representatives about registration issues.
	Intense pulsed light and laser machines are also used for beauty treatment purposes. Providers of this type of service are required to register with the Commission. The Commission is currently reviewing its policy for targeting unregistered providers and has been working to raise public awareness of the requirement on such providers to register with it.

Waiting Times

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of performance against the Government's commitment that no-one should wait more than six months for an NHS in-patient operation.

Andy Burnham: The number of patients waiting over six months at the end of April 2006 was 144 as published on 2 June 2006. The figures relating to the end of May will be published on 30 June. Breaches of waiting time standards are unacceptable and the Department will continue to work closely with the small number of national health service organisations with patients waiting over six months. Patients can continue to expect inpatient treatment within six months of a decision to treat in line with the standard established in December 2005.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Conference on Public Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the total cost was of the conference on public services held on 6 June 2006 by the National School of Government.

Patrick McFadden: The National School of Government's estimate for the total cost of the conference 21st Century Public ServicesPutting People First on public service reform held on 6 June 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre is 281,000 (including VAT).
	This figure includes all contract costs and expenses paid out for the event by the National School of Government, and by other delivery partners in Cabinet Office.
	The figures given are taken from actual invoices and financial estimates maintained for the project. Most invoices have now been received and are in the process of payment. For any outstanding invoices, detailed estimates of costs have been obtained from suppliers. Figures given have been rounded.
	External speakers, including the three international speakers, made their contributions on an expenses-only basis and no fees were paid for the preparation or delivery of any of the 11 speaker presentations at the conference.

Office Refurbishment

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost was of refurbishing the offices at 26 Whitehall in each year since 1997.

Hilary Armstrong: The Cabinet Office acquired 26 Whitehall in December 1998. The cost of refurbishing 26 Whitehall from then until December 2002 cannot be separately identified as the refurbishment was undertaken as part of an integrated project which included the refurbishment of the inter-connected 22 Whitehall and Admiralty Arch.
	Since the major refurbishment works were completed, there have been no refurbishments undertaken at 26 Whitehall.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Abdullah Baybasin

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will consider deportation proceedings against Abdullah Baybasin.

Liam Byrne: The Department's long-standing policy is not to comment on individual cases.

Alcohol Budget

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will keep a separate record of the amount spent annually by his Department on alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office records expenditure on hospitality but has no plans to maintain separate records of expenditure on alcohol.

Antisocial Behaviour

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on action taken by groups of residents in response to antisocial behaviour in their locality; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Respect programme places the emphasis on local agencies to use the tools and powers they have been given to swiftly and effectively tackle antisocial behaviour and its causes. The implementation of neighbourhood policing teams and the increase in the number of police community support officers means that there are more resources than ever before on the streets to respond appropriately to antisocial behaviour and there will be no excuse for inaction.
	The current programme of Respect academies outlines how important communications, accountability and visibility are for public services tackling antisocial behaviour. To successfully tackle antisocial behaviour we need people to work in partnership with the police and local authorities. We want to encourage people to come forward, complain and take a stand, collect evidence and play an active part in residents' and community groups. The Respect Taking A Stand scheme continues to recognise members of the public for their courage in tackling disrespect and antisocial behaviour in their communities.
	This Government are determined to empower the public to hold their leaders to account and have their say about the issues that matter most to them. We will ensure that senior representatives of all Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships hold regular 'face the people' sessions to promote greater accountability and visibility in local services. And we are committed to introducing a 'community call for action', a power that will give local communities a formal way to request and ensure that action is taken by the police, local authorities and others in response to persistent antisocial behaviour or community safety problems, where action is not already being taken.

Antisocial Behaviour

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place in his Department to ensure that local agency reports of antisocial behaviour are standardised; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of those measures.

Tony McNulty: In 2004 the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) published Defining and Measuring Antisocial behaviour which contained a typology of antisocial behaviour intended to provide a practical guide to the main categories of behaviour that are widely accepted to be antisocial by both practitioners and the public. This has been used to develop a standard focus for work aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour problems locally. The introduction of the antisocial behaviour hotline It's your call in 49 areas since January 2005 has encouraged the public to report incidents of antisocial behaviour and has helped to further standardise local agencies' reporting of antisocial behaviour. Building on It's your call, the single non-emergency number, 101, is currently being rolled out by local authorities and police partnerships across England and Wales and will provide the public with easy access to community safety and antisocial behaviour services, advice and information. The recording and categorisation of incidents of antisocial behaviour reported to 101 will be standardised based on the Home Office RDS typology of antisocial behaviour as well as the Police National Standard for Incident Recording. This will facilitate the greater standardisation of reporting by local agencies as well as supporting a more effective operational approach to reducing incidents and patterns of antisocial behaviour and improving the quality of services to the public. The 101 service will be operational across England and Wales by 2008.

Anti-terrorism Funding

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to paragraph 6.68 of the 2006 Budget, what projects will be funded by the increased anti-terrorism funding.

Tony McNulty: The Government have dedicated 63 million extra this year and 100 million extra the year after to expand the police specialist CT capacity outside London, as well as an extra 30 million this year and an extra 45 million next year for the metropolitan police. The 42.5 million referred to in paragraph 6.68 of the 2006 budget report is included in these figures.
	For obvious reasons I do not want to identify particular projects, but this additional funding will strengthen the police service's intelligence and investigative capability both in the capital and across the rest of the service and will complement the additional funding provided for the Security and Intelligence Agencies already announced. In total, over the two years, the police service will receive 446 million specifically for countering the international terrorist threat and domestic extremism.

Asylum/Immigration

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been housed in  (a) Greater London,  (b) the London borough of Hillingdon and  (c) Uxbridge constituency in each of the last seven years.

Liam Byrne: The number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by Government office region and local authority; this is available from December 2002. The latest publication covering the first quarter of 2006 and historic publications are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library of the House.

Asylum/Immigration

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been given indefinite leave to remain having served a prison sentence for a non-political crime outside the UK in  (a) the last 12 months and  (b) each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate does not currently record the information requested.

Asylum/Immigration

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have been returned to Iran in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Information on the destination of asylum removals has only been recorded since the start of 2004. The latest published information on removal of asylum seekers covers the first quarter of 2006. The number of principal asylum applicants, excluding dependants, removed to Iran, was 220 in 2004, 350 in 2005, and 95 in the first quarter of 2006.
	These figures include people departing voluntarily after enforcement action has been initiated against them and people leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration. Since 2005 removal figures will include those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. Information on removals of asylum seekers for the second quarter of 2006 will be published later this year on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum/Immigration

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers that have yet to be deported reside in  (a) Peterborough constituency and  (b) Peterborough city council area.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum/Immigration

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there are in  (a) Peterborough constituency,  (b) Peterborough city council area and  (c) the East of England.

Liam Byrne: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by Government Office region and local authority. The most recent publication covering the first quarter of 2006, and further historical publications are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library of the House.

Asylum/Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was after the 18th birthday of a person who arrived as an unaccompanied asylum seeking child for them to receive an interview for discretionary leave to remain in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: There are no published statistics for the length of time to interview unaccompanied asylum seeking children after their 18th birthday.

Asylum/Immigration

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons granted bail by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal have committed offences while on bail in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information is not collected centrally and therefore would be available only at a disproportionate cost.

Asylum/Immigration

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been granted indefinite leave to remain in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: Statistics on persons granted settlement in the United Kingdom since 1994 were published in Table 5.3 of the annual Command Paper Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2004. Copies are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The 2005 edition is due to be published on 22 August 2006.

Asylum/Immigration

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received concerning the whereabouts of asylum detainees who escaped from the Yarl's Wood detention centre on 14 February 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Many records were burnt or destroyed on the night of the fire and, to the best of our knowledge, the following figures are correct. Of the 23 escapees 16 have been relocated. Of these, nine have been removed, four re-detained (three of whom were subsequently released), one reported to Croydon Enforcement Unit voluntarily and was released and two were granted temporary release. The whereabouts of seven remain unknown. Decisions on the 16 were made in line with the casework criteria as it applies to their individual circumstances.

Asylum/Immigration

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees who escaped from the Yarl's Wood detention centre on 14 February 2002 have been deported.

Liam Byrne: Of the 23 detainees who escaped from Yarl's Wood on 14 February 2002, nine have been removed from the United Kingdom.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 26 April from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, Ref: M10324/6.

Liam Byrne: The correspondence was received in the Home Office on 28 April, but was subsequently transferred to the Department for Trade and Industry on 3 May. The subject matter then became the responsibility of the Department for Communities and Local Government, who should be replying shortly.

Court Orders

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) exclusion orders,  (b) curfews and  (c) parenting orders have been issued by Luton police in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: 75 curfew orders were issued in the Luton and South Bedfordshire petty sessional area during 2004 (including any heard at the Crown court, having been committed by the said petty sessional area), the latest period for which figures are available. Parenting orders are issued by courts. The Youth Justice Board collects the number of parenting orders related to youth offending or antisocial behaviour broken down by youth offending team area. It is currently reviewing these figures for the period 2004-05 and 2005-06.
	I will write to the hon. Member when the reviewed figures are available Three notifications of exclusion orders made under section 40A of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act issued in the Luton and South Bedfordshire petty sessional area were received by the Home Office during 2004. There is no requirement to notify exclusion orders (made under the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980) to the Home Office.

Court Orders

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) curfews,  (b) exclusion orders and  (c) parenting orders have been issued in the Essex police area in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: 187 curfew orders were issued at all courts in the Essex police force area during 2004, the latest period for which figures are available. The Youth Justice Board collects the number of Parenting Orders related to youth offending or anti-social behaviour broken down by youth offending team area. It is currently reviewing these figures for the period 2004-05 and 2005-06. I will write to the hon. Member when the reviewed figures are available. No notifications of exclusion orders made under section 40A of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act issued in Essex were received by the Home Office during 2004. There is no requirement to notify exclusion orders made under the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980 to the Home Office.

Crime (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which areas in Merseyside are considered high crime areas; and if he will make a statement on measures taken to reduce crime in these places.

Tony McNulty: There are five Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in Merseyside, of which only Liverpool is defined as a high crime area for the purposes of the Home Office Public Service Agreement 1. A range of measures have been put in place to reduce crime in Liverpool. It participates in targeted initiatives such as the Drugs Intervention Programme, the Tackling Violent Crime Programme and the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign, as well as the Prolific and Priority Offenders Strategy, which has been rolled out to all local areas to enable them to deal with their most problematic offenders. Merseyside is also a Specialist Domestic Violence Court Programme roll out area with specialist courts, supported through funding by the Home Office, developing across the Criminal Justice Area. Further measures tackle burglary, robbery, vehicle crime, antisocial behaviour and hate crime.

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the powers of crime and disorder reduction partnerships.

Tony McNulty: Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have duties, rather than powers, under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Home Office has recently conducted a review of the relevant provisions of this Act in order further to strengthen the visibility, responsiveness, membership and role of CDRPs. Our aim is to make-them the most effective possible vehicle for tackling crime and disorder, substance misuse, antisocial behaviour, and environmental crime at a local level. The review findings were published on 25 January 2006. A copy is available in the Library of the House. The legislative changes required to implement the recommendations of the review are included in the Police and Justice Bill, currently before Parliament..

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority expects to publish an annual report for 2003-04.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The annual report and accounts of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority were laid before Parliament on 15 June 2006,  Official Report, column 71WS, and will be published by 30 June 2006.

Departmental Contractors

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any contractors have been dismissed from contracts with his Department because of illegal working practices since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: A 100 per cent. manual search through all contract records would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Websites

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many websites there are within his responsibilities; and what the total cost of maintaining such websites was in the last year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: As of 19 June 2006, the Home Office operates 41 websites. This does not include approximately 20 non-departmental public body (NDPB) sites, which are affiliated with, but independent of the Home Office. The core Home Office website also has a number of sub-domains, such as police.homeoffice.gov.uk, which act as portal sites for practitioners around policy issues. The Home Office does not keep a central record of costs for all departmental websites, and would not be able to collect this information without incurring disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many domestic violence cases prosecuted in the last five years perpetrators were charged with other crimes.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to respond to this question.
	The records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) identify the number of defendants proceeded against for offences of domestic violence, but provide no information on other offences committed by the same defendants. This information could only be obtained by locating and examining every relevant file in each CPS office, which would involve disproportionate costs (Code of Practice on access to Government information, part 2, clause 9).

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which other crimes domestic violence perpetrators have been  (a) investigated,  (b) charged and  (c) sentenced in the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not routinely keep this type of data centrally. However, a study conducted in 2005-06, using data from by the Offender Management system (OASys), found that there was a correlation between offenders who were physically violent towards their partner and a wide range of other offences. The table lists the types of co-related offences that were identified by the study.
	
		
			  Offence category by domestic violence indicators 
			   Offender sub-groups 
			   Offence involved physical violence towards partner  Other evidence of domestic violence  All other offenders 
			  Current offence category  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Violence against the person 18,743 86.1 8,091 31.8 37,128 18.9 
			 Sexual offences 336 1.5 1,054 4.1 6,835 3.5 
			 Burglary 151 0.7 1,637 6.4 15,069 7.7 
			 Robbery 56 0.3 565 2.2 6,068 3.1 
			 Theft and handling 152 0.7 2,820 11.1 34,768 17.7 
			 Fraud and forgery 26 0.l 448 1.8 9,024 4.6 
			 Criminal damage 567 2.6 1,558 6.1 5,440 2.8 
			 Drugs offences 79 0.4 1,254 4.9 17,103 8.7 
			 Other offences 1,650 7.6 8,056 31.6 64,894 33.1 
			 All offences 21,760 100 25,483 100 196,329 100

Drunk and Disorderly Fines

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on publicity to inform people that they can be fined 80 for being drunk and disorderly.

Liam Byrne: Since 2005 the Home Office has spent 323,345 on outdoor posters explaining the consequences of being drunk and disorderly and the fixed penalty notice.

Fingerprints

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government policy is on the collection of minors' fingerprints.

Joan Ryan: Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, as amended, the police may take, without consent, fingerprints from all persons, including juveniles, who have been arrested for, informed they will be reported for or charged with a recordable offence and detained in a police station. The police may also take fingerprints from persons convicted of a recordable offence. Fingerprints which have been lawfully taken may be retained whether or not the person is charged with an offence or subsequently acquitted.

Foreign Prisoners

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether Tawanda Machingura, a Zimbabwean foreign national imprisoned for sexual assault of a vulnerable patient, has been deported;
	(2)  when he will reply to question 69926, on Tawanda Machingura, tabled by the hon. Member for Billericay on 8 May for named day answer on 11 May.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1047.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters of complaint were received by his Department relating to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate where the individual writing normally resides in  (a) Peterborough constituency and  (b) Peterborough city council area in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Details of complaints received from June 2005 to May 2006 where the complainant (either an organisation or individual) has given a Peterborough postcode in the reply address are presented in the table.
	
		
			   Organisations  Individuals  Total 
			  Postcode PE1 to PE7
			 Number received 24 22 46 
			 
			  Postcode PE9 to PE30
			 Number received 8 18 26 
			  Note: PE8 is not included as no complaints have been recorded from addresses with that postcode. 
		
	
	This information relates to all Peterborough postcodes as central data is not broken down by city council area or constituency.
	Prior to June 2005 this information was not recorded centrally therefore to provide the information requested as specified would incur disproportionate costs.

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the IT projects costing over 1 million in use in his Department and introduced since 1997 have been scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee; and if he will list them.

Liam Byrne: I am advised that the IT projects costing over 1 million in use in the Home Department that were introduced since 1997 and have been scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee are in the following table:
	
		
			  Date  PAC hearing title 
			 5 January 2000 Improving the Delivery of Government IT Projects 
			  Includes: (i) The United Kingdom Passport Agency (now The Identity and Passport Service). This IT system was introduced in 1997 
			  (ii) The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) Casework Programme. This project was at its inception phase in 2000 and by that stage had cost less than 1 million 
			   
			 26 January 2000 Home Office: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Casework Programme 
			   
			 28 June 2000 The Passport Delays of Summer 1999 
			   
			 12 July 2000 Criminal Justice: Working Together. This became the Criminal Justice System IT Programme which was a joint Home Office, Department for Constitutional Affairs and Crown Prosecution Service programme 
			   
			  2001-02  
			 28 November 2002 Public Private Partnerships: Airwave 
			   
			  2003-04  
			 28 October 2004 Criminal Records Bureau: delivering safer recruitment. IT contract awarded in 2000 
			   
			  2004-05  
			 5 July 2005 The impact of the Office of Government Commerce's initiative on the delivery of major IT-enabled projects (Home Office, including the IND Case Information Database Enhancement Programme as a subset case study, and HMPS were witnesses). 
			  The Case Information Database was successfully rolled out between January 2001 and March 2003. The Case Information Database Enhancement Programme (April 2002-July 2003) improved it

MI5 (Northern Ireland)

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the possibility of establishing MI5's handling of threat information on the Omagh bombing prior to 15 August 1998.

Tony McNulty: There have been no discussions for the reasons set out by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Woodward) in his answer of 2 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1490W, with reference to the chief constable's statement of 1 March 2006.

Operation Reproof

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what lessons have been learned by his Department from Operation Reproof in Devon and Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 5 June 2006
	The investigation into Operation Reproof was undertaken under the supervision of the former Police Complaints Authority and the recommendations were passed to the chief officer for consideration. The chief officer is responsible for the day to day management of the force and use of its resources. I will ensure that the chief constable receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Member directly. Copies of the letter containing the response from Devon and Cornwall police will be placed in the House Libraries.

Parliamentary Questions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide a substantive reply to Question 69968, tabled by the hon. Member for Leominster for named day answer on 11 May; and what the reason was for the time taken to reply.

Tony McNulty: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in answering his question, which was the result of the change in ministerial responsibilities at the Home Office at the beginning of May.

Police

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the potential change in the number of civilian posts resulting from  (a) a Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire combined police force,  (b) a Hampshire and Thames Valley combined police force and  (c) a Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey combined police force;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the potential start-up costs of  (a) a Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire combined police force,  (b) a Hampshire and Thames Valley combined police force,  (c) a Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey combined police force and  (d) one stand-alone Hampshire force;
	(3)  what representations he has received from the Hampshire police force on the proposed merger of police forces in the area;
	(4)  whether additional funding will be available from his Department to the Hampshire constabulary in the event of its merger with other forces;
	(5)  what estimate his Department has made of the likely change in the Hampshire police precept to the council tax which would arise from a merger of the Hampshire constabulary;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of the likely impact of a merger of the Hampshire constabulary with other forces on  (a) police officer and  (b) civilian staff numbers;
	(7)  how many representations he has received to date supporting the abolition of the Hampshire police constabulary as a stand-alone force.

Tony McNulty: The proposed merger of police forces into new strategic forces is intended to strengthen forces' ability to protect the public better from serious crimes and terrorism and to embed neighbourhood policing. For any merger, decisions about future posts will be for the new strategic forces' management teams to determine No proposal for a Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire combined police force, or a Hampshire and Thames Valley police force was submitted by forces and authorities in December 2005 and therefore no estimate has been made of any change in civilian posts under either of these options.
	The estimate of the potential change in the number of civilian posts resulting from a Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex merger, based on assumptions submitted by Surrey, was a reduction of some 250 police staff posts under this merger, achieved through economies of scale and process re-engineering. The exact number of redundancies would be dependent on a variety of factors including natural wastage, effective use of workforce planning and utilising alternative employment.

Police

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the likely costs of implementing new IT systems arising from the options under consideration for the merger of police forces in the South East.

Tony McNulty: Police forces and authorities in the South East submitted a cost benefit analysis of the best options for police structures in that region, including estimated Information Communication and Technology (ICT) costs, to the then Home Secretary in December 2005. This analysis was reviewed by the Home Office and informed the then Home Secretary's statement of 20 March 2006 in which he stated that the merger of Surrey and Sussex police, along with the reconfiguration of Hampshire constabulary, Kent police and Thames Valley police as strategic forces, would be of the greatest benefit for the South East region. A joint Home Office, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Association of Police Authorities (APA) and Police Information and Technology Organisation (PITO) working group has been established to work in conjunction with police force project teams to ensure that all ICT requirements, and associated costs, are identified.

Police

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for (i) racism, (ii) bullying and (iii) sexual harassment in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Police complaints and discipline statistics are not collected in the categories requested. The available information is drawn from the Home Office Police Complaints and Discipline Statistics produced for the years 1999 to 2003 and from the Police Complaints: Statistics for England and Wales 2004-05 produced by the IPCC.
	 Note:
	The statistics collected by the Home Office, and from April 2004 the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), record decisions on the misconduct charges faced by all police officers in England and Wales as well as substantiated complaints by reason of complaint.
	The presentation of information by the IPCC varies slightly from that previously used by the Home Office. We have provided the statistics from the categories that most closely relate to the categories contained in the question.
	
		
			  Disciplinary punishments or misconduct sanctions awarded 
			   1  2  3  4  5 
			  Most serious outcome  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Dismissed 41 24 44 33 34 
			 Required to resign 84 73 71 62 57 
			 Reduction in rank 15 19 18 14 13 
			 Reduction in pay(1) (disciplinary punishment) 7 3
			 Fine 154 191 169 138 115 
			 Reprimand 86 88 58 42 45 
			 Caution 51 50 42 21 18 
			 No action (misconduct sanction) 4 8 7 14 42 
			 Written warnings(2) 880 
		
	
	
		
			  Substantiated complaints by reason for complaint 
			   1  2  3  4  5 
			  Reason for complaint  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Oppressive Conduct/Harassment 54 56 59 46 57 
			 Racially discriminatory behaviour 18 9 9 8  
			 Discriminatory behaviour 13 
			 (1) Information not recorded from 2002 onwards. (2) Information not recorded for the period 2000-04  Source: Columns 1 to 4 Home Office Statistics Column 5 IPCC Statistics

Police

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2006,  Official Report, column 742W, on the police, what steps he plans to take to fulfil the strategic goals outlined by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in relation to West Mercia police.

Tony McNulty: As my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary indicated on 19 June and I re-iterated when I met the hon. Member, among others, the following day, we remain of the view that the creation of strategic police forces is the best way to improve protective services while safeguarding dedicated neighbourhood policing. However, we want to engage in a further round of dialogue and discussion with the policing community to discuss the best way to achieve that outcome.

Police

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2006,  Official Report, column 742W, on the police, on what evidence he based his statement that the present strategic structure of West Mercia police was not fit for purpose.

Tony McNulty: As was made clear in the answer to which the hon. Gentleman refers, our assessment was based on the advice of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Police

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) resignations and  (b) retirements of police officers from Cumbria police force there have been in each year since 1995.

Tony McNulty: The available information is provided in the table. Figures are available only from March 1996.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent( 1)  police officer resignations and retirements in Cumbria, 1996-2005 
			  As at 31 March  Voluntary resignations( 2)  Retirements( 3) 
			 1996 4 39 
			 1997 11 46 
			 1998 7 45 
			 1999 19 36 
			 2000 9 50 
			 2001 8 53 
			 2002 11 30 
			 2003 9 30 
			 2004 11 32 
			 2005 15 24 
			 (1) Prior to 2003, FTE figures excluded those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (2) Voluntary resignations does not include those who are dismissed and required to resign. (3) Retirements includes normal retirements and medical retirements.

Police

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retirements there have been on grounds of ill-health from each police force in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 June 2006
	The information requested is provided in the table. Figures are collected on behalf of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and are published in their annual report.
	
		
			  Number of police officer medical retirements by force, by year (2001-05) 
			   As at 31 March each year 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Avon and Somerset 42 42 34 10 16 
			 Bedfordshire 18 8 7 1 3 
			 Cambridgeshire 11 10 8 4 1 
			 Cheshire 22 22 25 15 11 
			 Cleveland 9 21 11 11 11 
			 Cumbria 24 7 7 4 3 
			 Derbyshire 12 9 12 2 9 
			 Devon and Cornwall 15 19 9 6 9 
			 Dorset 12 10 3 9 4 
			 Durham 8 15 11 6 7 
			 Dyfed-Powys 14 13 11 7 9 
			 Essex 34 32 21 16 13 
			 Gloucestershire 7 10 13 5 2 
			 Greater Manchester 110 57 33 10 14 
			 Gwent 16 24 22 8 13 
			 Hampshire 17 19 11 11 8 
			 Hertfordshire 13 8 7 3 1 
			 Humberside 20 11 10 2 10 
			 Kent 29 38 21 9 6 
			 Lancashire 30 39 22 13 11 
			 Leicestershire 28 7 9 6 8 
			 Lincolnshire 4 3 10 3 7 
			 London, City of 9 8 4 8 4 
			 Merseyside 47 58 51 25 25 
			 Metropolitan Police 225 219 150 60 64 
			 Norfolk 10 16 13 6 10 
			 Northamptonshire 8 6 3 3 3 
			 Northumbria 28 33 21 9 4 
			 North Wales 31 20 14 6 7 
			 North Yorkshire 37 16 9 8 8 
			 Nottinghamshire 16 14 16 12 15 
			 South Wales 76 50 33 14 8 
			 South Yorkshire 30 30 17 12 3 
			 Staffordshire 9 24 22 14 13 
			 Suffolk 14 13 12 8 3 
			 Surrey 18 24 12 10 6 
			 Sussex 16 16 9 4 12 
			 Thames Valley 20 17 29 17 8 
			 Warwickshire 15 7 8 4 3 
			 West Mercia 28 28 20 11 10 
			 West Midlands 29 30 21 13 12 
			 West Yorkshire 44 61 23 11 5 
			 Wiltshire 5 3 15 2 6 
			 Total 1,209 1,114 819 418 405

Police

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) internal and  (b) external meetings he has held on police force restructuring in the last 12 months; and how much time has been spent in each category of meeting.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 4 May 2006
	The Home Secretary has had numerous meetings on this subject.

Police Complaints

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what criteria are used by police professional standards departments when conducting complaints into police conduct and behaviour; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what criteria are used by the Independent Police Complaints Commission when conducting complaints into police conduct and behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Independent Police Complaints Commission is responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the Chairman receives a copy of the questions and replies to the hon. Member directly. Copies of the letters containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the House Library.

Police Complaints

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what measures the Government have put in place to ensure that investigations into complaints of police behaviour and misconduct by  (a) police professional standards departments and  (b) the Independent Police Complaints Commission (i) follow due process and (ii) are conducted to high professional standards; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidance is issued to serving police officers who are subject to investigations following a complaint as to their conduct during that investigation; what guidance is issued to local police force managers on these matters; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Independent Police Complaints Commission is responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Member directly. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the House Libraries.

Portland PR

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings officials in his Department have had with representatives of the public relations company Portland PR; what contracts Portland PR has with his Department and agencies for which he has responsibility; and what the nature of the contract is in each case.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not maintain a central list of such meetings.

Prisoner Deportation

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether foreign prisoners subject to a recommendation for deportation will be excluded from the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 8 May 2006
	The Government will shortly be setting out proposals on how the system for deporting foreign national prisoners can be improved. If we conclude that legislative changes are needed to secure those improvements we will consider them.

Proscribed Organisations

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the inclusion of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on the list of Proscribed Organisations in Schedule 2 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in March 2001.

Tony McNulty: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was proscribed in March 2001 because the then Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), decided that it met the criteria for proscription laid down in Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT) This decision was endorsed by Parliament. The list of proscribed organisations is kept under constant review. It is established policy not to comment further on any information or intelligence we hold in relation to a specific group on the list of proscribed organisations. The LTTE, or anyone affected by the proscription, may apply at any time to the Home Office be removed from the proscribed list. If such an application is unsuccessful an appeal can then be taken to the independent Proscribed Organisation Appeal Commission.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what incentives are available to encourage members of his staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work.

Liam Byrne: We encourage staff to use public transport for travelling to work by:
	Providing no-interest loans for public transport season ticket and cycle purchases. Promoting national initiatives such as cycle to work days.
	Ensuring that green transport plans already developed for most sites are kept up to date and are acted upon.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what incentives his Department offers to encourage staff to share vehicles when travelling to work.

Liam Byrne: The Home Department has no policy on this.

Safer Neighbourhood Programmes

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of  (a) the potential of nationwide implementation of safer neighbourhood programmes such as that introduced by Birmingham council and  (b) the effectiveness of the National Community Safety Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: There has been no formal national evaluation of safer neighbourhoods work. However, Local Strategic Partnerships are encouraged to evaluate such projects in their area to identify what works, and to mainstream successful initiatives into their core programmes. National developments such as neighbourhood policing, Respect and the National Community Safety Plan all encourage neighbourhood level working to make communities safer places. It is too early to evaluate the impact of the National Community Safety Plan, given that it is a three year plan which has only been live for less than six months.

Small Firms

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition the Department uses of a small firm.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office does not use one single definition of a small firm. Terms such as small firm and SME (small and medium sized enterprise) are used interchangeably. Two of the most common definitions are those provided by the European Union, and the Companies Act 1985.
	The European Commission definition specifies a maximum headcount, turnover, balance sheet and independence criteria to qualify as a small firm. The Companies Act 1985 states that a company is small if it meets at least two of the following criteria: a turnover of not more than 5.6 million; a balance sheet total of not more than 2.8 million; and not more than 50 employees. These definitions can be found at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/enterprise_policy/sme_definition/index_en.htm and http://www.dti.gov.uk/cld/audit.htm.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to achieve compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 22 for the UK.

Liam Byrne: The United Kingdom ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child on 16 December 1991, subject to a number of reservations. Only two of these remain; one about children in adult offender institutions and one referring to Immigration and Nationality.
	The latter reservation is as follows:
	The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply such legislation, in so far as it relates to the entry into, stay in and departure from the United Kingdom of those who do not have the right under the law of the United Kingdom to enter and remain in the United Kingdom, and to the acquisition and possession of citizenship, as it may deem necessary from time to time.
	We comply with the spirit of Article 22 of the Convention and believe that our reservation in respect of immigration and nationality matters does not lead to any neglect of children's care or welfare. The Government have no intention of withdrawing the reservation.

Visas

Piara S Khabra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people entered the UK with valid visas as visitors during the last 12 months; how many failed to return to their country of origin before the expiry of their permitted stay; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: From the latest published Control of Immigration statistics for 2004, there were around 1.65 million visitors to the United Kingdom whose nationality requires them to obtain a visa before travelling the UK. This figure relates to passenger journeys; a person who makes more than one journey in a given year is counted on each occasion. Following the removal of embarkation controls in 1996, it is not possible to comment on the number of persons who return to their country of origin before their leave to enter or remain as a visitor in the UK expires.

Witness Protection

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are available to minimise recrimination against victims of  (a) criminal and  (b) antisocial behaviour who give evidence to the police.

Tony McNulty: Witness intimidation is an offence by virtue of S.51 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (in relation to criminal proceedings) and S.39 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (in relation to civil proceedings). The provisions cover intimidation of anyone who
	is assisting in the investigation of an offence or is a witness or potential witness or juror or potential juror in proceedings for an offence.
	The police and courts clearly take this issue seriously and we have seen convictions for witness intimidation increase by over 30 per cent. between 2000 and 2005.
	The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 provides a range of special measures for witnesses whose evidence is likely to be affected by fear or distress in connection with testifying in criminal proceedings. These measures include the use of screens and live links, and a greater degree of privacy in what remains a public hearing, to be applied in sexual cases, or where there is a fear that the witness may be intimidated. Intimidated witnesses may also be permitted to give their evidence in private.
	The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 introduced similar measures for witnesses in proceedings for antisocial behaviour orders. The use of hearsay evidence in civil proceedings involving antisocial behaviour allows witnesses to remain anonymous. In exceptional cases, in criminal proceedings, at the discretion of the court, witnesses in criminal cases, who are unwilling to give evidence through fear for their safety, may also be permitted anonymity.
	The Court must consider the potential disadvantages to the defendant and ensure that it is necessary and that the witness is in genuine and justified fear of serious consequences if his true identity became known. It must also ensure that necessary and appropriate precautions are taken to ensure that the trial itself will be fair. When exercising this discretion the court should be mindful of four factors; there must be real grounds for being fearful of the consequences of revealing the identity of the witness, the evidence must be sufficiently important to make it unfair to the prosecution to compel them to proceed without it, the prosecution must satisfy the court as to the creditworthiness of the witness and finally the court must be satisfied that no undue prejudice is caused to the defendant. Provided that appropriate safeguards are applied, and the judge is satisfied that a fair trial can take place, it may permit anonymity. In criminal cases, law enforcement agencies are responsible for providing support for intimidated witnesses and we are doing everything we can to ensure that they are assisted in doing so. We are working with them and other criminal justice agencies to ensure that intimidated witnesses are identified at an early stage and properly supported throughout the criminal justice process.
	We fund the National Witness Mobility Service which gives police forces access to support from housing experts to assist in the relocation of intimidated witnesses. The Service has assisted in some serious antisocial behaviour cases. We are planning to extend this support by facilitating access to a wider range of services through the establishment of a central services unit. We have also introduced new legislation which helps forces to secure the assistance they need from others to set up protection arrangements and provides additional safeguards for witnesses. In antisocial behaviour cases, agencies are also encouraged to give witnesses support after the court hearingfor example by keeping them informed about the outcome.
	A range of detailed guidance is set out on the TOGETHER website at http://www.together.gov.uk/category.asp?c=339.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Constituency Visits

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the constituencies he visited between 5 May 2005 and 5 May 2006.

John Prescott: The information requested is not collected in this form.

Dorneywood

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1665W on Dorneywood, if he will make it his policy to collect information on the number of times hospitality is offered at Dorneywood to members of foreign and Commonwealth Governments.

John Prescott: My hon. Friend may be aware of my announcement on 31 May of my personal decision that I no longer wish be the official resident of Dorneywood.

Pension Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his role is in developing pension policy; and if he will make a statement.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 13 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1086W.

Private Office

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the role is in his private office of Sheree Dodd; what the cost to public funds has been to date for the employment of Ms Dodd; and if he will make a statement.

John Prescott: The person named does not have any role in my private office.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government is continuing to provide my media support until the recent machinery of Government changes are complete. Specific staff issues are the responsibility of the civil service; I am not involved in any such appointments. Staff costs will be accounted for in the Department's annual report and accounts in the usual way.

Sovereign Strategy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 6 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 833-34W, on Sovereign Strategy, if he will list the occasions in the last 12 months when his official diary shows that he had meetings with a representative of Sovereign Strategy.

John Prescott: No such occasions are listed; and I did not meet this company.

Timber

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his wooden office furniture is made from sustainable timber.

John Prescott: Yes. All office furniture procured by my office comes from sustainable sources. However, there are a small number of older piecespredating the creation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in May 2002for which sources cannot be verified.

Websites

Charles Hendry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many websites there are within his responsibilities; and what the total cost of maintaining such websites was in 2005-06.

John Prescott: My new website is currently under development. Website information relating to my former departmental responsibilities has now transferred to the Department for Communities and Local Government, and I refer the hon. Member to that Department.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Printers

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment the Commission has made of the reliability of the new Dell printers issued to hon. Members.

Jack Straw: As of 31 May 2006 1,069 Dell printers have been supplied to Members of the House. Between 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2006, 48 warranty calls have been made to Dell. This is equal to one call for every 22 printers.
	By comparison during the period 1 August 2004 to 31 July 2005, 287 warranty calls were made relating to the 1,363 HP printers being used by Members. This is equal to one call for every 4.7 printers.
	The majority of calls in both cases relate to the multifunction printers which are more complex and therefore more likely to develop a fault. Direct comparison of the warranty call ratios is not straightforward since the HP equipment in the sample is older than the Dell equipment and therefore would be expected to generate a higher number of warranty calls.
	When equipment is first installed the overall number of calls received to the service desk does increase as issues with initial set-up and queries about the operation of the new equipment are handled. Accurate records as to the number of calls relating to this area are not available.
	There is an issue associated with the new Dell printers relating to the operation of the second printer tray when working it in conjunction with certain applications. This is being investigated by both the supplier of the application and by Dell.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Better Regulation Task Force

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005,  Official Report, column 2403W, on the Better Regulation Task Force, what progress he has made in considering whether and to what extent the Task Force's other specific proposals can contribute to the key outcomes outlined in 'Every Child Matters'.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 19 June 2006
	The Task Force's recommendation, that guidance should be given to local authorities that Directors of Children's Services should have functions relating to child employment as part of their remit, is a helpful contribution to the 'Every Child Matters' agenda. I have not yet been persuaded that the Task Force's legislative recommendations would make a significant contribution towards the five key outcomes for all our children described in 'Every Child Matters'. The Government will continue to consider the recommendations, but will not take any measures that could compromise children's entitlement to education, sufficient rest, or appropriate leisure time.

Fostered Teenagers (Support)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is provided for teenagers who leave long-term foster care placements; what extra support is provided for those with special needs; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 20 June 2006
	Local authorities are placed under a duty, by section 22 of the Children Act 1989, to safeguard and promote the welfare of looked after children. The review of children's cases procedure, derived from section 26 of the 1989 Act, places a duty on local authorities to have in place a plan for the future care of looked after children and to appoint an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to conduct the periodic statutory reviews of their cases.
	The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 is based on this care planning framework. As looked after children approach their 16th birthday, when they will become entitled to services as 'care leavers', their needs are required to be reassessed in order to inform the construction of their 'pathway plan' (which should be based on their existing care plan). This plan sets out the services that are necessary to respond to the young person's needs, to prepare them for leaving care and then to support them after they have left care up until the age of 21, or longer, if they remain in an approved programme of education or training.
	For young people with statements of special educational needs (SEN), including those who are looked after, there is a statutory transition planning process, which commences during Year 9 of their compulsory education. The purpose of this multi-professional process is to plan for young people's transition to adult life.
	Where a child who is the subject of a SEN statement is also a looked after child, then their responsible local authority should co-ordinate the respective planning processes, in order to integrate their transition plan with their pathway plan, so that young people are provided with the necessary support in an integrated way before, during and after leaving care.

School Inspectors

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of school inspectors in the Office of Standards in Education (Ofsted) worked in a school prior to joining Ofsted.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 21 June 2006:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been referred to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of schools, for reply.
	You asked what proportion of school inspectors in the Office of Standards in Education (Ofsted) worked in a school prior to their joining Ofsted.
	In response, the information requested is not held centrally. However, an analysis of the career history of the HMI appointed since September 2003 shows that 85 per cent had worked in a school prior to joining Ofsted.
	Our analysis demonstrated that since September 2003:
	113 HMI had worked in a school prior to joining Ofsted;
	17 HMI had worked in a college; and
	3 HMI had worked for local authorities and did not have teaching posts in schools/colleges listed in their CVs.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Specialist Schools

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) of 4 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1764W, on specialist schools, how many specialist schools are in areas within the worst 20 per cent. of wards in England according to the index of deprivation; and what specialism has been chosen by each such school.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House Library.

St. Mark's Pre-school (Salisbury)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when Ofsted will publish the July 2005 inspection report on St. Mark's Pre-School in Salisbury (Ofsted reference 146011) on its website; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: This is a matter for the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). Maurice Smith, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 15 June 2006:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been referred to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of schools, for reply.
	You asked when Ofsted will publish the July 2005 inspection report on St. Mark's Pre-School in Salisbury (Ofsted reference 146011) on their website.
	In response, the report will be published on Tuesday 20 June 2006. The delay in publication occurred due to administrative and computer system errors which resulted in the failure to publish the report on the website at the correct time. Despite this, a copy of the report was sent to the nursery.
	Now that the matter has been brought to our attention, we are working to fix these system errors and will remedy the situation. Ofsted would like to apologise most profusely for the delay.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Statemented Children

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what powers  (a) academies and  (b) other schools have to limit admittance of children with statements.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 16 June 2006
	Neither academies nor maintained schools have direct powers to limit admittance of children with statements of SEN. Academies admit more pupils with SEN (both with and without statements) than other secondary schools in England. The large majority of academies must have regard to the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2001) and any guidance issued by the Secretary of State relating to sections 316 and 316A of the Education Act 1996. Academy procedures for admitting children with statements of SEN track those for maintained schools. For example the large majority of academies must consent to being named in a statement of SEN unless to do so would be
	incompatible with the provision of efficient education for other children; and where no reasonable steps may be made to secure compatibility.
	This position tracks the requirement on maintained schools set out in sections 316/316A of the 1996 Education Act.
	Where parents of children with a statement express a preference for a particular maintained school the local authority must consult the school concerned, and in the case of a school maintained by another authority that local authority as well. As part of the consultation process the authority should write to the school and other authority to ask them whether, in their opinion:
	the school is unsuitable to the child's age, ability or aptitude or to his special educational needs;
	the child's attendance would be incompatible with the efficient education of the children with whom he would be educated, or
	the child's attendance would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.
	If the school or local authority opposes the naming of the parent's preferred school on any of the grounds specified above, the home authority should consider very carefully their reasons for doing so, before deciding whether or not to name the school. The decision rests with the local authority and once a local authority names a particular maintained school in a child's statement, that school must admit the child.

Sure Start

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many available places there are in Sure Start schemes in  (a) Lewisham, Deptford constituency and  (b) Lewisham borough;
	(2)  what percentage of children are on Sure Start schemes in  (a) Lewisham, Deptford constituency and  (b) Lewisham borough.

Beverley Hughes: Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) were set up between 1999 and 2003 offering a range of services to children under four years of age and their families living in defined areas. All SSLPs are becoming Sure Start Children's Centres and will offer services to children under five years of age and their families. Information about the percentage of children reached by SSLP services is now collected once a year. Data on how many children have accessed services through children's centres are not available yet.
	2,325 children under four live in areas covered by three SSLPs in the Lewisham Deptford constituency. In all 3,427 children under four live in areas covered by five SSLPs in the borough of Lewisham. The latest information available (at March 2005) shows on average 37 per cent.(1) of children in the Lewisham Deptford SSLPs and on average 36 per cent.(1) of children overall in SSLP areas in the borough of Lewisham had significant contact (that is, a home visit or attendance at a centre-based activity) with Sure Start.
	There is one Sure Start Children's Centre up and running in the constituency of Lewisham Deptford, building on an existing SSLP and offering services to 1,545 children under five and their families, and three overall in the borough of Lewisham offering services to 4,650(2) children under five and their families.
	(1) SourceSure Start Local Programme data returns March 2005.
	(2 )4,650 children includes 1,483 children previously served by the two SSLPs across Lewisham that have become children's centres.

Tuition Fees (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from  (a) Peterborough constituency and  (b) Peterborough city council area are exempt from tuition fees.

Bill Rammell: The number of students from Peterborough local authority making no contribution to their tuition fees in 2003/04 was 790(1). Data for 2004/05 onwards are not available as student applications from Peterborough were processed by another local authority (Cambridgeshire), and can not be disaggregated.
	Students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition based on household income. Students from lower income backgrounds are wholly or partially exempt from paying tuition fees.
	From 2006/07 upfront fees are abolished and full-time students will be eligible for tuition fee loans of up to 3,000. In addition, we expect around 30 per cent. of students to receive the full maintenance grant of 2,700 and an HE institution bursary of at least 300. Overall, we expect around half of all eligible students to receive at least some maintenance grant.
	(1) Rounded to the nearest 10 students.

Vocational Training

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Government have to improve vocational training for young people in Swindon.

Phil Hope: The new Specialised Diplomas will provide an exciting, aspirational and stretching programme of learning for young people of all abilities and backgrounds, including the most able, who enjoy learning in a practical environment. A new statutory entitlement will be in place for all 14 to 19-year-olds from September 2013. Apprenticeships are the main programme for young employed people seeking vocational qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3. Other opportunities are also being developed, including a pilot programme that started in April this year aimed at encouraging 16 to 18-year-olds in jobs without training to gain a Level 2 qualification, whether academic or vocational. For those over 19 and without either basic skills or a first Level 2 qualification we have put in place the Train to Gain service to deliver high quality flexible qualifications in the workplace.
	The local Learning Skills Council can provide details of any local initiatives that are available in the Swindon area.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Pensions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the pension liability of his Department over the next 30 years.

Paul Goggins: HM Treasury placed a technical note in the Library of the House on 2 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 388-90, following an oral statement in Parliament by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
	Pension liabilities are not estimated for individual Departments, they are estimated for individual pension schemes, as shown in the breakdown of liabilities per pension scheme given in table 1 of the technical note.

Disability Leaflet

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many copies of the leaflet 'Has disability altered your home?' have been produced by the Rate Collection Agency in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The Rate Collection Agency has produced 10,000 of these leaflets since 2003.

Driving Safety

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to inform motorists in Northern Ireland of the dangers of driving while using a mobile phone.

David Cairns: Prior to the introduction of the offence of using a hand held mobile phone while driving, the Department of the Environment (DOE) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) raised awareness through press releases and media interviews. A reminder exercise was carried out one year after its introduction.
	The DOE produced a radio advertisement, 'Grave Mistake', which airs regularly and a leaflet providing advice on appropriate use and penalties for misuse of mobile phones. The DOE and PSNI include information on the use of mobile phones on their websites. Electronic message systems on motorways in Northern Ireland carry road safety messages including Kill the call before it kills you at intervals throughout the year.
	Rule 127 in the Highway Code for Northern Ireland advises drivers never to use a hand held mobile phone when driving. A draft revised Highway Code, which will shortly go out for consultation, will reinforce the legal requirement on drivers.
	New primary road traffic legislation, on which the DOE has consulted, will be introduced late 2006/early 2007 and will include penalty points and greater fines for using a hand held mobile phone while driving. The DOE will consider the most appropriate way of raising awareness in advance of the proposed changes.

Drugs

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths from drug related poisoning involving illegal substances were recorded in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Hanson: It is not possible to answer this question directly as a number of people who have died from a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act may have obtained the drug legally for example methadone overdose.
	However the following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland for each year between 2001 and 2005 for which the underlying cause was drug poisoning(1) and where any drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act were mentioned on the death certificate.
	(1) International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes:
	Fl 1-F16, F18-F19?Mental and behavioural disorders related to drug use.
	X60-X64?Intentional self-poisoning by drugs.
	X40-X44?Accidental poisoning by drugs.
	X85?Assault by drugs.
	Y10-Y14?Undetermined and other poisoning by drugs.
	
		
			  Number of deaths due to drug-related poisoning involving illegal substances 
			   Number 
			 2001 23 
			 2002 37 
			 2003 36 
			 2004 19 
			 2005 (provisional) 47

Early Retirement (Medical Staff)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) general practitioners,  (b) consultants and  (c) nurses have retired early in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by health board area.

Paul Goggins: Details of numbers of early retirements by  (a) general practitioners,  (b) consultants and  (c) nurses in each of the last five years broken down by health board are set out in the following table. These figures include early retirements on grounds of ill health, redundancy or in the interests of the efficiency of the service and voluntary early retirement.
	The information has been extracted from Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) Superannuation records of HPSS staff who have been awarded early retirement benefits under the provisions of the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995.
	
		
			  Table of numbers of early retirements by area board for (a) practitioners, (b) consultants and (c) nurses in each of the last five years 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  (a) General practitioners  
			 Eastern 3 10 8 5 7 
			 Northern 2 7 3 2 1 
			 Southern 2 0 3 1 0 
			 Western 1 3 0 3 1 
			 Total 8 20 14 11 9 
			   
			  (b) Consultants  
			 Eastern 5 2 1 2 4 
			 Northern 1 0 1 1 1 
			 Southern 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Western 0 0 2 0 0 
			 Total 7 2 4 3 6 
			   
			  (c) Nurses  
			 Eastern 59 64 58 50 43 
			 Northern 21 31 27 20 15 
			 Southern 28 22 19 23 19 
			 Western 30 26 19 23 25 
			 Total 138 143 123 116 102

Employment (East Londonderry)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in  (a) male and  (b) female unemployment in East Londonderry constituency has been in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Unemployment levels from the claimant count for males and females in the East Londonderry parliamentary constituency in January 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, together with their yearly change, are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  East Londonderry 
			  January each year  Male claimant count  Change from previous January  Female claimant count  Change from previous January 
			 2002 1,701 -178 585 -41 
			 2003 1,572 -129 493 -92 
			 2004 1,522 -50 504 11 
			 2005 1,474 -48 573 69 
			 2006 1,245 -229 462 -111

Energy Policy

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the use of nuclear power to generate electricity for Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer dated 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 447W.

Job Centres

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs are presently advertised through job centres in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: As of 15 February 2006, there were 5,355 vacancies advertised in the Jobs and Benefits Offices and Jobcentres throughout Northern Ireland.
	It is anticipated that approximately 40,000 vacancies will be notified during the 2005-06 financial year.

Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which private Members' Bills were drafted by his Department in each session since 1997; and which subsequently received Royal Assent.

Peter Hain: My Department has not drafted any such Bills.

Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will list those Government Bills sponsored by his Department that are still to be introduced during the 2005-06 session;
	(2)  if he will list the Government Bills sponsored by his Department that he has bid for in the next session of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Straw) on 16 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1432W.

Ministerial Travel

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on police security provision for Ministers' car travel in each year since 1998, broken down by Northern Ireland Department.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not available and to attempt to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Police Officers (Medical Retirement)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many former police officers retired on medical grounds had their  (a) degree of disability and  (b) disability band reduced following reassessment in the last 12 months; and how many former police officers there are in each band of disability.

Paul Goggins: During the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 the Selected Medical Practitioner (SMP) completed 184 Injury on Duty percentage award reviews. Of the 184 reviews, 80 awards were reduced, 89 were increased and 15 remained unchanged. In respect of the 80 reduced awards, 24 resulted in the ex-officers Injury on Duty Disablement pension band being lowered. Information relating to the number of former police officers in each band of disability is not readily available and would require a manual trawl of records and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Security Forces (Republic of Ireland)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1605W, on security forces (Republic of Ireland), if he has been informed of any occasions on which security forces from the Republic of Ireland have crossed into Northern Ireland without the consent of UK authorities in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer dated 23 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1605W, and wish to advise him that the PSNI's position regarding this issue remains the same.

Terrorist Activity (Costs)

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated total cost is to the Northern Ireland economy of terrorist activity in the last 30 years.

Peter Hain: It is not possible to determine the direct total costs associated with terrorist activity in Northern Ireland but it is recognised that the impact is considerable in terms of business confidence and investment. Furthermore, the economy has significantly improved since the initial Provisional IRA ceasefire of 1994. Employment is currently close to its highest recorded level at 754,000 in 2006 (from 607,000 in 1994) and unemployment has fallen by 7 percentage points between 1994 and 2006 (from 11.9 per cent. in 1994 to 4.9 per cent. in 2006).

Vehicle Registration

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) motorcycles and  (b) cars were newly registered in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998.

David Cairns: The number of motorcycles newly registered in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1998 4,423 
			 1999 5,411 
			 2000 6,099 
			 2001 5,678 
			 2002 5,699 
			 2003 6,888 
			 2004 4,706 
			 2005 4,728 
		
	
	The number of cars newly registered in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1998 100,947 
			 1999 99,490 
			 2000 95,018 
			 2001 98,789 
			 2002 93,866 
			 2003 97,374 
			 2004 96,058 
			 2005 98,471

Victims

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times in each of the last five years he has met  (a) each victims group,  (b) individual families of victims and  (c) victims of major shooting and bombing incidents which led to large numbers of deaths; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The information you seek is not held in the format in which it was requested and to attempt to gather such information could be done only at a disproportionate cost. I would however advise the hon. Member that since my appointment as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in May 2005 I have had several meetings with victims groups and their families. Indeed the hon. Member was present at a recent meeting I had with one such group.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many police officers have been trained in Afghanistan in each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The latest confirmed figure available for the total number of police trained in Afghanistan is 56,900, dated 31 December 2005. Since this time, however, the figures reported have been baselined to reflect the number of Afghan police both trained and equipped. On 24 April 2006 this figure stood at 30,263.

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in setting up a Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board for the implementation of the political commitments in the Afghanistan Compact.

Margaret Beckett: The Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) sat for the first time, in Kabul, on 30 April 2006 and will reconvene on a quarterly basis until 2011. The board consists of 28 members.
	Eight consultative groups and five cross-cutting thematic groups have also been established to help deliver recommendations on sectoral issues to the JCMB.

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) Afghan national police and  (b) Afghan border police officers have been trained in each year since 2003; and how many deserted after training in each year.

Margaret Beckett: The latest confirmed figures available for the number of Afghan police trained are dated 31 December 2005. At that time, the total number of trained officers stood at 56,900. Since then, however, the figures compiled have been re-baselined to reflect the number of Afghan police trained and equipped. On 24 April 2006, this figure stood at 30,263: 23,000 uniformed police (Afghan national police); 1,700 highway police; 5,200 border police; and 300 counter-narcotics police.
	Figures showing the number of officers trained and deserted after training are not held centrally by either the German Police Programme Office or the Ministry of Interior, and are not therefore available.

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK representatives sit on the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board for the implementation of the political commitments made in the Afghanistan Compact.

Margaret Beckett: The Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board consists of a total of 28 members, seven representatives of the Afghan Government and 21 representatives of the international community. The UK occupies one of the 21 seats on the board allocated to the international community.

Amazon Deforestation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much soya bean crop for export has been certified under the Amazon Deforestation Soya Certification Project in Santarem, within the Amazon state of Para.

Ian McCartney: The independent Amazon soya certification scheme, being funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Opportunities Fund, is currently under development. No soya bean crop has yet been exported under the certification scheme.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what services will be offered for travel directly between Ascension Island and St. Helena after the airport on St. Helena opens.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, on 17 November 2003,  Official Report, column WA245. It will be for commercial operators to decide whether to take the opportunity to operate a service between the islands. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office keeps access needs in the South Atlantic under review.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place between the Ascension Island Administrator and her Department regarding relations with the Ascension Island council.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Overseas Territories Department is in regular communication with the Ascension Island Administrator. During the Administrator's recent leave in the UK, and in accordance with normal practice, he met FCO officials on 21 March. Relations with the Island council were among the wide range of issues discussed.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply of 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 308W, on Ascension Island, what notice the Crown would need to give  (a) residents of domestic dwellings on Ascension Island if it wished to take possession of those dwellings as the freeholder and  (b) the Users of Ascension Island if it wished to take possession of their sites as the freeholder.

Geoff Hoon: There is no statutory requirement for the Crown to provide any notice to take possession of a domestic dwelling or a User site. However, should the Crown need to take possession of land currently used for a domestic dwelling or a User site, it would aim to take individual circumstances into account and provide appropriate warning.

Belarus

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Belarus Government following the statement of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe that the presidential elections there were seriously flawed; what action the Government propose to take with EU partners on this matter; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Mr. Alexander) made a statement on 20 March following the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights International Election Observation Mission preliminary conclusions on the Belarusian election. He expressed our deep regret that the Belarusian authorities chose to conduct the elections in this way and the clear breach of its OSCE commitments. This statement has been brought to the attention of the Belarusian authorities.
	The Government supported EU declarations on 20 and 22 March agreeing with the OSCE's assessment of a fundamentally flawed election, deploring the arbitrary use of state power, the absence of a level playing field and the pattern of intimidation and harassment of the opposition. The EU urged the Belarusian authorities to allow the people of Belarus to exercise their right of assembly and freedom of expression in line with their OSCE commitments and called upon the Belarusian authorities to immediately release those currently detained for exercising their political rights. This declaration was brought to the attention of the Belarusian authorities during the OSCE Permanent Council meeting 23 March.
	Under the UK presidency, the EU made it clear that it would be ready to take further restrictive measures against those responsible for the violations of international electoral standards. On 10 April, EU Foreign Ministers agreed a travel ban against 31 individuals deemed responsible for the fraudulent election and the subsequent crackdown on the opposition. On 18 May, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to impose further restrictive measures in the form of asset freezes on 36 individuals (including five people subject to earlier travel bans as a result of their involvement in the disappearances of opponents of the regime in 1999-2000 and the fraudulent parliamentary elections). Both the travel ban and asset freeze lists include Lukashenko.
	Together with EU partners, we will continue to put pressure on the regime to improve its performance on democracy and human rights while maintaining contact with the Belarusian people by securing better-focussed EU assistance for civil society in Belarus.
	The full texts of all three statements are available on the following websites:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Pagecid=1007029391629a=KArticleaid=1142703888055
	http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/declarations/88956.pdf
	http://www.eu2006.at/en/News/CFSP_Statements/March/2203Belarus.html

Burma

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has held with the governments of  (a) Russia,  (b) China and  (c) Japan on (i) the political situation in Burma and (ii) a binding resolution about Burma at the UN Security Council.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions about Burma with these governments.
	I discussed Burma separately with the vice Foreign Ministers of China and Japan on 20 June. I asked the Chinese Minister that China use its influence to encourage the Burmese Government to meet its human rights responsibilities, and that China supports a Security Council debate and resolution on Burma. I encouraged the Japanese Minister to use any influence that Japan may have to put pressure on the Burmese Government, and asked that Japan support a Security Council debate and Resolution on Burma.
	Officials regularly discuss Burma with Russia, China and Japan both in capitals and in New York.

Burma

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese Government; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to secure a binding resolution at the UN Security Council calling for  (a) the restoration of democracy and  (b) the release of all political prisoners by the Burmese Government; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We support all action by the UN which will help initiate a genuine process of democratic reform in Burma. We therefore support the current proposals by the United States for a substantive discussion of Burma at the UN Security Council which we hope will lead to a Resolution.
	We condemn the Burmese regime's recent decision to extend Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest for another year. We have repeatedly called for her release and that of all other prisoners of conscience, most recently when I met the Burmese ambassador on 15 June.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister issued a statement on 19 June expressing the Government's concern about the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi. It can be found on the following website:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page9691.asp.

Climate Change

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to strengthen the Department's institutional capacity in the area of climate change policy; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has for years been instrumental in driving forward international work on climate change. It has worked with Europe, the G8 and through the UN to raise the political profile of climate change issues, and to generate practical actions to counter it. To boost the FCO's input into the Government's climate change agenda, I announced on 8 June 2006 that
	achieving climate security by promoting a faster transition to a sustainable, low carbon global economy
	will be an additional strategic priority for the Department. John Ashton started work for the FCO in the week of 19 June 2006. He will be supported in the first instance by a team of four people.

Climate Change

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries she identified as priority countries in the context of the appointment of the special representative for climate change.

Margaret Beckett: John Ashton, the special representative for climate change, will support Ministers in delivering a step-change in the international response to climate change. His initial view is to engage with major developed and developing countries, including the G8 plus five: China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. He will also look to build close relationships with the rest of the 20 major energy consumers of the future which are involved in the Gleneagles dialogue on climate change, including Australia, Indonesia, Nigeria and South Korea. EU partners will continue to be very important.

Climate Change

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what practical steps will be taken by the special representative for climate change to achieve the aims of building a stronger political foundation for international action on climate change, and working to build consensus among key governmental and non-governmental actors in priority countries.

Margaret Beckett: The special representative will work closely with cross-Whitehall colleagues and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas network. He will engage with major developed and developing countries, including China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa, to help drive forward the Gleneagles dialogue on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development, agreed at last year's G8 summit. He will work closely with dialogue partners to encourage them to deploy clean technologies, create incentives for large scale private sector investment, explore a new model for co-operation between developed and developing countries and for action on adapting to the impacts of climate change. He will also engage with many international non-governmental actors, particularly the business community, to listen, probe and explore common ground to build the political foundation needed to support forums like the EU, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, G8 and Gleneagles dialogue and our bilateral relationships.

Colombia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British officials monitored the recent elections in Colombia.

Geoff Hoon: Our embassy in Bogota consulted with a wide range of civil society and other groups, including EU partners, in observing the lead up to and the conduct of the Colombian presidential elections on 28 May. British officials were not involved in direct election monitoring, nor was there an official EU observation mission. The Organisation of American States followed the election process closely, as did the Centre for Electoral Advice and Promotion (CAPEL), a branch of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights. The assessment of CAPEL was that the elections had been conducted in a fair manner. We fully support the EU declaration issued on 31 May 2006, which welcomed the holding of free elections and committed the EU to continue its full support for the democratic, economic and social development and the return to peace in Colombia. The full text of the 31 May EU declaration can be found on the following website: http://www.diplomacymonitor.com /stu/dm.nsf/dn/dn6F81A8FDE57805BB85257180003 EAA52.

Departmental Finance

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answers of 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1000W, on departmental finance, what information she relied on for her statement that the account payable module closed promptly in April and May; why this information was not used to answer question 75958; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The information contained in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Howells) to my hon. Friend on 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1000W, concerning the prompt closure of the accounts payable module, was provided by officials in the resource accounting department. They confirmed that the accounts payable module was closed promptly at the end of April and May and was available to users the day after the April closure, and on the same day following the May closure.
	I also replied to my hon. Friend on 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1000W, that information about delays in the input and processing or invoices, and late payment of invoices was not held for invoices processed at overseas missions. The information could only be obtained centrally by contacting each mission and this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited into her Department in each of the last three years.

Geoff Hoon: The number of staff aged 55 and over recruited into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number 
			 2003-04 17 
			 2004-05 13 
			 2005-06 14

EU Entrant Countries

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her assessment is of the readiness of each potential new entrant into the EU; and what the expected timetable for entry is for each.

Geoff Hoon: Romania and Bulgaria are scheduled to join the EU on 1 January 2007 provided that they address the outstanding issues outlined in the European Commission's report of 16 May. The Commission will report on both countries' progress no later than early October. Accession can be postponed until 2008 on the basis of a decision by Council following a recommendation from the Commission.
	Turkey and Croatia have opened membership negotiations with the EU. The European Commission is currently screening Turkey and Croatia's legislation to assess their alignment with the acquis communautaire. The Science and Research chapter for both countries was provisionally closed at the Accession Conference on 12 June. Before joining the EU, both countries must close the remaining 34 chapters of the acquis and meet the political and economic criteria for membership outlined in the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council in 1993.
	The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is a candidate country. However, it has not opened negotiations for membership. The European Commission will report on further progress this year. The EU has offered all the other countries of the Western Balkans, none of which is yet a candidate country, the perspective of ultimate EU membership through the Stabilisation and Association process.
	Neither the EU nor the UK has set a timetable for any country's entry to the EU beyond Romania and Bulgaria. The progress of each candidate or potential candidate towards membership depends on their success in meeting EU standards.

EU Foreign Policy

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response her Department has made to the concept paper on EU foreign policy published by the President of the EU Commission.

Geoff Hoon: Although the Government do not agree with all of the proposals in the Commission communication ('Europe in the WorldSome Practical Proposals for Greater Coherence, Effectiveness and Visibility'), it welcomes the paper as a helpful contribution to an important workstream. It is right that the EU should be considering ways of making its external policies more co-ordinated and effective, within the framework of existing treaties. And we agree that better strategic planning, and better co-operation between the EU institutions and the member states can help this.
	We therefore look forward to further discussions on the Commission communication and the external coherence workstream more generally during the Finnish presidency.

Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of US proposals for a fissile materials cut-off treaty; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The UK welcomes the US initiative made in Geneva in May to table a draft treaty text and draft mandate for negotiations. We hope that all Conference on Disarmament (CD) member states are able to accept the very broad mandate proposed and agree to open negotiations towards a treaty without delay. UK officials and experts are assessing the implications for the UK of the draft US text for a fissile material cut-off treaty.
	The UK's, and the wider EU's, support for such a Treaty is well known. In the Common Position negotiated in advance of last year's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, the EU appealed to the CD for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of a non-discriminatory, universally applicable Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

Human Trafficking

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on co-ordination and engagement with source and transit countries to investigate and dismantle human trafficking.

Margaret Beckett: My right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) most recently discussed human trafficking at the European Council meeting in December 2005 at which the draft European Action Plan on Trafficking was approved. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth affairs, Dr. Howells, also visited Romania and Bulgaria (accession states) to discuss human trafficking.

Illegal Immigrants

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed by her Department in each year since 2001; in what capacities they were employed; how many were discovered as part of a criminal investigation; and what the nature of the charges brought against them were.

Geoff Hoon: None.

International Atomic Energy Agency

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK's financial contribution to the International Atomic Energy Agency will be in 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) financial year runs with the calendar year. Figures for 2006 for the UK's three main block payments to the IAEA are as follows:
	Two payments were made to the Regular Budget. At IAEA's request these payments were made in different currencies. One of 13,095,000 (8,974,000) and a second payment of US$3,483,000 (2,020,000). Together these payments amount to 10,994,000.
	The UK made a single payment of US$4,581,000 (2,657,000) to the Technical Co-operation Fund.
	The UK's Regular Budget and Technical Co-operation Fund payments are fixed by reference to slightly reduced standardised UN contribution rates. The slight reduction is because one member of the IAEA is not a member of the UN. The UK's IAEA base rate is 5.911 per cent. However, under a long standing agreement developing countries are currently shielded from paying the full costs of the safeguards component of the Regular Budget. The UK accordingly pays 6.137 per cent. of the total Regular Budget.
	In addition in 2006, the UK made voluntary contributions to support the IAEA's Nuclear Security Fund (US$704,000 or 485,000), and to support IAEA work to improve internal management processes (85,000 or 58,000).

Iran

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her US counterparts about measures designed to limit the access of the Iranian Government to international financial markets; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and I are in regular contact with our counterparts in the US and other countries about policy towards Iran. We have discussed possible benefits available to Iran in a long-term agreement on the nuclear issue if Iran complies with its obligations, and the likely costs to Iran of greater isolation if it chooses to pursue a course of confrontation.
	Ministers and officials have discussed with their counterparts in general terms the measures that the international community might have available, including in the economic and financial sphere, in the event that Iranian behaviour makes sanctions necessary. But the international community is united in wanting Iran to take the steps required by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board and return to a diplomatic process on the basis of the ideas presently being proposed by the UK, France, Germany, Russia, China and the US. All our efforts are being directed to that end.

Latin America

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the activities of the US National Endowment for Democracy in Latin America.

Geoff Hoon: We have not made a specific assessment of the impact of the activities of the US National Endowment for Democracy. We work with a number of partners in the EU and across the region to promote democracy and good governance in Latin America.

Overseas Territories

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the British Overseas Territories which have governors; how long the period of office is of each; what powers each has; and to whom each is accountable.

Geoff Hoon: Governors are appointed to the Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena and its dependencies and Turks and Caicos Islands. With the exception of our high commissioner in Wellington, the non-resident governor of Pitcairn, who serves a four year tour, all governors are appointed for a Foreign and Commonwealth Office standard tour of three years, which may in some cases be extended. The constitutional powers and responsibilities of the governor are set out in the constitution of each territory. The governor of each territory is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen. As Her Majesty's representative the governor is accountable to her through my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

Private Military Companies

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of British citizens employed by private military companies.

Margaret Beckett: We are unable to provide a figure for the number of British citizens employed by private military companies. We estimate that there are around 40 private military and security companies registered in or operating from the UK who are engaged in activities overseas. Many companies operate with a core staff and employ others to fulfil contracts as and when required. They do not necessarily employ only British citizens. These factors make it difficult to give an accurate estimate of the numbers employed.

Royal Visit (USA)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2006,  Official Report, columns 2246-47W, on the royal visit (USA), what the total costs were of  (a) gifts made by HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and reimbursed to the royal household by her Department and  (b) other reimbursements made by her Department to the Prince of Wales's household in connection with his visit to the United States in 2005.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 12 June 2006
	The total cost of gifts reimbursed to the Prince of Wales's household was 3,438.38. Other reimbursements to the household totalled 8,497.45.

Somalia

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the progress of the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia; and if she will make a statement on UK policy towards Somalia.

Ian McCartney: The victory of the Islamic Courts Union over the warlords in Mogadishu and other towns in Central Somalia is an important development. The UK continues to support the Transitional Federal Institutions in pursuing dialogue, reconciliation and stable governance in Somalia in accordance with the Transitional Federal Charter. We will continue to provide assistance to Somalia within this framework. We urge all states in the region to respect the UN arms embargo on Somalia and refrain from supplying armaments, which exacerbate conflict there. We encourage the Transitional Federal government to engage with the Islamic Courts Union and welcome the fact that both sides have made conciliatory statements.

Sudan

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on the United Nations' aim to deploy UN troops in the Sudan.

Ian McCartney: I fully support the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. The UK has been taking a lead in seeking international support for one. A UN force for Darfur would be in addition to the UN force already deployed in southern Sudan.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with Dr. Ibrahim Mudawi of the Sudan Social Development Organisation on his appraisal of the situation in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials meet regularly with Dr. Mudawi in Sudan. Like us, he remains concerned about the ongoing security problems in Darfur. We also share his concern about the need for a greater understanding of the Darfur Peace Agreement in order to develop more support among Darfuris themselves. He is also keen to press on with arrangements for a Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation to act as a rallying point for the different interest groups in the region.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements she is negotiating with the  (a) African Union and  (b) United Nations to try to improve the security situation in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: We welcome the African Union's (AU) decision on 15 May to proceed with the transition of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the UN. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed this with the chairperson of the AU when they met in London last month. We continue to support AMIS through funding and technical assistance to enhance its effectiveness.
	We also welcome the Government of Sudan's acceptance of the UN planning mission and are pressing for them to agree to the deployment of a UN force in Darfur. Joint planning for transition between the AU and the UN is already under way. We are providing military and police planning experts to the UN and pressing for the handover to take place as quickly as possible.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the Government of National Unity in Sudan will accept the introduction of UN troops in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: After extensive international lobbying, the Government of Sudan have agreed to allow a UN Technical Assistance Mission to visit Sudan to begin planning for the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. However, they have not yet endorsed the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. We and other international partners will continue to lobby them to do so.

Trinidad and Tobago

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the relevant Trinidad and Tobago authorities on avoiding unnecessary delays to the appearance of witnesses travelling from the UK to appear in court cases in Trinidad and Tobago; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Foreign and Commonwealth officials in London and our High Commission in Port of Spain have made representations to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago about delays encountered by British nationals appearing in court cases in Trinidad and Tobago. To address this problem, the Tobagonian authorities are introducing a 24 hour court for crimes against tourists. Tele-conferencing is also to be introduced so that foreign victims of crime can give evidence from their home countries. We welcome the announcement of these positive measures, and will monitor their practical implementation carefully.

Uganda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of recent discussions between representatives of the South Sudanese Government and representatives of the Lord's Resistance Army including Joseph Koug.

Ian McCartney: The UK has long been committed to seeking a peaceful solution to the long running conflict in northern Uganda, which continues to undermine security in neighbouring southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Any discussions or mediation efforts need to be aimed at encouraging those Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) members not facing International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants to stop fighting and seek amnesty and reintegration into their communities.
	We continue to call on Sudan to meet its international obligations and ensure the five senior LRA commanders indicted by the ICC are brought to face justice in the Hague. Our Ambassador in Khartoum pressed Salva Kiir, President of the Government of Southern Sudan, on the Government's ICC obligations on 10 May. The UK-led UN Security Council delegation, which visited Juba on 8 June as part of a wider trip to Sudan, also raised the issue with President Kiir.